Planting thuja as a hedge was long considered outdated. Only in recent years has there been a renaissance of this robust hedge plant. Arborvitae hedges are hardy and easy to care for. How to properly plant a Thuja hedge. An instruction:

The Thuja thrives best in a sunny location

Which location is suitable for Thuja?

Sunny to partially shaded locations are ideal. The tree of life grows very poorly in shady locations. At first it doesn't tolerate too much wind very well either.

Choose the location carefully. Once the thuja hedge has grown, it is very difficult to remove it. Transplanting is only possible with very young trees without any problems.

If you are not sure whether the location is really good, first plant the thuja in buckets. You can move them later as needed.

What should the substrate be like?

The soil should be neither too sandy nor too acidic. Slightly humic, improved with peat and compost, the substrate is optimal.

When is the best planting time?

The best time to plant the tree of life is in spring in March and April. Even in late summer you can still plant Thuja well from August to September. You should not plant the tree later because the roots do not have enough time to develop.

What planting distance must be observed?

A distance of approx. 40 to 45 cm is recommended for planting. With this distance you will reach a dense hedge relatively quickly. So you need two to three arborvitae per meter of hedge.

If the thuja seedlings are planted more densely, they cannot develop properly. However, the gaps close very quickly, so that you will soon have a dense hedge.

How do you prepare the planting site?

Loosen the soil deeply and remove thickenings and stones. Mix mature compost and/or horn shavings (€32.93) into the potting soil. Then you save yourself frequent fertilizing later.

Dig a planting trench about twice as wide and deep as the thuja root ball. In general, the planting holes must be about 40 to 50 cm deep.

What should be considered when creating a hedge?

Mark out the course of the hedge well beforehand. This is the only way you can calculate how many plants you will need.

How do you plant thuja correctly?

First you need to water the root balls well. Submerge them in buckets of water until no more air bubbles rise. Loosen up the root ball a little. If necessary, remove the wrapper that the plant came with beforehand.

Place the tree of life in the planting trench so that it stands as straight as possible. Fill in the soil and gently tamp down. You must then water the tree well, even if the soil is still damp from the rain.

In windy locations you should put on a windbreak for the beginning. It is beneficial if you spread a layer of bark mulch under the Thuja hedge. Garden waste such as leaves, lawn clippings or straw are also suitable as mulch material. The cover prevents the soil from drying out and provides the plants with nutrients.

What should be considered after planting?

Especially in the early days, the soil must never dry out completely. This would dry up the roots and the tree of life would die. Therefore, water regularly, but make sure that there is no waterlogging.

Can thuja be transplanted later?

Transplanting thuja is very time-consuming, as the root system is very pronounced and can often only be pulled out of the ground with heavy equipment.

When does the tree of life bloom?

The flowering period lasts from April to May. The flowers are rather inconspicuous.

When do the fruits ripen?

The fruits are ripe in September/October. Caution: They are particularly toxic and must not get into the hands of children.

How is the tree of life multiplied?

In theory, Thuja can be propagated from seeds. Propagation via cuttings is easier and faster. So-called tear buds are used for this, small side shoots that you tear off the main branch. They root faster than cut cuttings.

Prepare seed pots (€16.68). Remove the lower leaf scales and stick the rips into the ground. Moisten them well without getting the substrate too wet.

A hood prevents the cuttings from drying out later. Rooting usually occurs after four to six weeks.

How hardy is thuja?

The tree of life is completely hardy. There are varieties that tolerate up to minus 25 degrees and more. Winter protection is therefore not required. You only have to water a thuja hedge if it is very dry in winter. Watering is done on frost-free days.

tips

Thuja prefers rainwater. If possible, you should collect the water for it and water it in dry times. Therefore, do not plant thuja under trees that keep rainwater out.

Category:

Trees