When and with what is the tree of life fertilized?

When is it necessary to fertilize thuja?

Thuja prefers loose soil that shouldn't be too rich in nutrients. That's why you can do it with the Fertilize never exaggerate. If you use fertilizers from the garden center, be sure to follow the instructions and reduce the dosage a little. Under no circumstances should you give more than stated on the package.

Fertilization is only really necessary for very young plants. Even if the hedge looks a bit poor or has yellow and transparent needles, it can be helpful to apply fertilizer.

Fertilize the first time

Have you bought thuja in a bale and planted, do not fertilize at all in the first year. These plants are already adequately supplied with nutrients.

With bare-root thuja, wait two to three weeks before fertilizing for the first time. Then you already have new fine ones root that are able to absorb the fertilizer.

The right time of year to fertilize thuja

It is best if you fertilize the arborvitae in spring. For that is Slow release fertilizer to recommend. Later in the year you can do another fertilization in late summer. In autumn or the cold season you should no longer fertilize, as the new growth stimulated by the additional nutrients no longer hardens sufficiently before winter. The shoots then freeze to death in cold winters.

Fertilizer for the tree of life

• Coniferous fertilizer
• compost
• Horn shavings
• Blue grain
• Epsom salt

Special fertilizer for conifers, which is well suited for thuja, is available in stores. It is often offered as a liquid fertilizer. This application form is the easiest and can be distributed very evenly.

Blue grain is also often recommended. In the case of blue grain, however, it must be ensured that the fertilizer has to be administered about 14 days before the new shoots, as it needs until it penetrates the roots of the tree of life. Blue grain fertilization has to be done twice a year if it is to help.

You can't go wrong if you give thuja ripe compost or ripe manure in the spring and gently work it lightly into the soil.

How to properly fertilize thuja

Whatever fertilizer you give, make sure the soil is moist. In an emergency, go with the watering can on the floor beforehand. The fertilizer works faster on moist soil and does not burn the fine roots as quickly.

Follow the dosage instructions. With blue grain you need around 50 grams per square meter.

After fertilizing, water the thuja hedge with the watering can. As a result, the nutrients are released faster and can penetrate the soil better.

When thuja turns yellow

Becomes the tree of life yellow, over-fertilization cannot be ruled out. Due to the oversupply of nutrients, chlorosis develops, which causes the needles to be discolored.

The danger of over-fertilization exists primarily with artificial fertilizers that have not been properly dosed.

Under no circumstances should these fertilizers come into contact with the needles, as they will burn them.

Recognize and treat magnesium deficiency

A bright one Discoloration of the needles of the tree of life often indicates a deficiency in magnesium. Appropriate fertilizers are available in stores. Epsom salt is often recommended for this. If you are not sure whether you really have a magnesium deficiency, seek advice from a specialist.

Improve the soil while planting

In the first two years after planting, you do not need to fertilize thuja at all if you have prepared the soil well beforehand.

To do this, loosen it up deeply and remove all thickenings, stones, roots, etc. Mix the Potting soil with mature compost, deposited manure and / or Horn shavings.(€ 32.93 at Amazon *) Then the roots have sufficient nutrients available right from the start.

Peat is also suitable for improving the soil, but for ecological reasons it should only be used in an emergency.

Fertilize with mulch blankets

The best way to provide thuja with sufficient nutrients is to create a mulch blanket under the hedge. With this method you avoid over-fertilizing the tree of life. Suitable mulch materials are:

• Lawn cuttings (without seeds)
• Foliage (only healthy leaves)
• chopped up remains of thuja
• Bark mulch
• straw

Applying a mulch layer has the additional advantage that the soil moisture is kept constant because the water does not evaporate as quickly. In addition, it holds Mulch(€ 239.00 at Amazon *) Weeds away and save you so much work.

The mulch cover is ideally laid in spring every year and renewed in autumn if necessary.