Thuja is a very undemanding plant from the conifer family. Therefore, frequent fertilizing is not only superfluous, but even harmful. What do you have to consider if you want to fertilize a thuja hedge properly? Which fertilizer is suitable and when should you fertilize?

Compost is an excellent fertilizer for thujas and other plants

When is fertilizing Thuja necessary?

Thuja prefers a loose soil that should not be too rich in nutrients. Therefore, you should never overdo it with fertilizing. 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 what is stated on the package.

Fertilizing is only really necessary for very young plants. Even if the hedge looks a bit stunted or has yellow and transparent needles, fertilizing can be helpful.

Fertilize for the first time

If you bought and planted thuja in balls, do not fertilize at all in the first year. These plants are already sufficiently supplied with nutrients.

For bare-root thujas, wait two to three weeks before applying the first fertilizer. Then new fine roots have already formed, which are able to absorb the fertilizer.

The right season for fertilizing thuja

It is best if you fertilize the tree of life in spring. Long-term fertilizer is recommended for this. Later in the year you can do another fertilization in late summer. You should no longer fertilize in autumn or the cold season, as the new shoots stimulated by the additional nutrients will no longer harden sufficiently before winter. The shoots then freeze in cold winters.

fertilizer for the tree of life

  • conifer fertilizer
  • compost
  • horn shavings
  • blue grain
  • Epsom salt

In the trade you can get special fertilizer for conifers, which is well suited for thuja. It is often offered as a liquid fertilizer. This form of application is the simplest and can be distributed very evenly.

Blue grain is also often recommended. With blue grain, however, it should be noted that the fertilizer must be administered about 14 days before new growth, as it takes that long to penetrate the roots of the tree of life. A blue seed fertilization needs to be done twice a year if it is to help.

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

How to properly fertilize Thuja

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

Follow the dosing instructions. For blue grain you need about 50 grams per square meter.

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

When thuja turns yellow

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

The danger of over-fertilization is primarily in the case of artificial fertilizers that have not been correctly dosed.

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

Recognize and treat magnesium deficiency

A light discoloration of the needles of the tree of life often indicates a lack of 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 when planting

In the first two years after planting, you do not need to fertilize Thuja 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, manure and / or horn shavings. (32.93€) Then the roots have sufficient nutrients available from the start.

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

Fertilize with mulch layers

The best way to provide Thuja with sufficient nutrients is to create a mulch layer under the hedge. With this method you avoid over-fertilizing the tree of life. The following are suitable as mulch materials:

  • Grass clippings (without seeds)
  • foliage (healthy leaves only)
  • chopped cuttings of thuja
  • bark mulch
  • straw

Applying a layer of mulch has the added benefit of keeping soil moisture constant because the water does not evaporate as quickly. Plus, the mulch (€239.00) keeps weeds away, saving you a lot of work.

Ideally, the mulch layer is applied every year in spring and, if necessary, renewed in autumn.

tips

Do not fertilize thuja with fresh compost or manure. Only use mature fertilizing material because there is a risk of over-fertilization and the roots can burn.

Category:

Trees