If a thuja hedge has been in the garden for a long time, it can sometimes become very wide and take up too much space - especially if it has not been cut for a long time. What can you do if the thuja hedge has just become too wide?

The thuja hedge is very well tolerated by pruning

What to do if the thuja hedge is too wide?

Thuja hedges can be drawn at will. Whether you want a very narrow or a little wider hedge is a matter of space and taste.

If the life hedge has simply become too wide, you can cut it back. The tree of life tolerates pruning very well. However, there are a few things to note.

Thuja hedge cut back how far?

  • Do not shorten behind the green
  • never cut into scrap wood
  • wider below than above
  • Spread pruning over several years
  • use on a cloudy, dry day

Every very strong pruning weakens the tree of life. With very wide hedges, it can therefore be advisable to extend the pruning to several years.

Cut back the thuja evenly on both sides to the desired width by shortening the side shoots. At the same time, you should remove transverse shoots so that the air can circulate better.

Choose a cut where the thuja is narrower at the top than at the bottom. This not only prevents snow breakage, but also ensures that the tree of life gets more light and does not turn brown as quickly on the inside.

The best time to cut

Such a radical pruning should only be carried out in the spring, before the breeding and planting season begins. You can cut until the end of February, if necessary also in autumn after September.

A cloudy day is favorable so that the tree of life does not turn brown at the interfaces. The hedge should also be dry to prevent fungal infestation.

After trimming, water the hedge well and apply fertilizer.

Never cut behind the green!

When cutting back the thuja, you must make sure that you never shorten branches behind the green shoots. This leaves very unsightly bald spots that only grow back properly after years.

Under no circumstances should you cut back a thuja hedge into the old wood, as the tree of life will not sprout again there.

tips

If an old thuja hedge has not been cut for a long time, it sometimes makes sense to remove it completely and replant it. Too much pruning weakens the tree of life.

Category:

Trees