Thuja's much-vaunted tolerance to cutting is limited to a narrow, green needle coat. If the inexperienced home gardener is not careful when cutting, the tree of life will end up with bare, brown spots and dark holes. After reading this pruning tutorial, you will be familiar with the perfect pruning of thuja as a solitaire and hedge. How to cut the popular evergreen correctly.

As a hedge plant, the thuja must be cut regularly

Table of Contents

Show all
  1. Why is cutting thuja so delicate?
  2. types of cuts
  3. Built-up cut solitaire
  4. Shape and maintenance cut solitaire
  5. Construction cut hedge
  6. Topiary hedge
  7. Pruning hedge
  8. frequently asked Questions

    9. Why is cutting thuja so delicate?

    Tree nurseries and garden centers offer the tree of life as a pruning-compatible, evergreen ornamental tree. Of course, one thoughtless moment is enough to disfigure a thuja forever. So, to start the tutorial, we'll look at why pruning thuja requires a careful approach:

    • Thuja only grows on the tips of the shoots
    • Other woody areas have stopped growing forever
    • Arborvitae species do not have sleeping eyes as an "iron growth reserve"

    If you cut back a thuja hard once, you will regret the misstep for the rest of your life. The conifers no longer sprout from old wood. There are permanent gaps that allow a view of the dried-up interior of the bush. On arborvitae hedges, brown areas that no longer turn green spoil the appearance. This rule of thumb therefore applies to every type of cut on thuja: Always cut in the green needled shoot area.

    Proper cutting for shape and vitality - types of cutting at a glance

    Uncut, an occidental tree of life stretches 10 meters and more in height and is 3 to 4 meters wide. Even the slender Thuja variety 'Smaragd' reaches a height of up to 6 meters. With these dimensions, the conifers in a normal garden quickly reach their limits. Given the caveats discussed above about deep pruning, regular, moderate pruning regulates growth and preserves evergreen vitality. The following table lists all suitable cut types for the tree of life as a solitaire and hedge:

    cut type aim best appointment
    Extension cut Solitaire and hedge even growth, better stability against snow pressure February to early March
    Topiary hedge Growth control, shape maintenance February to early March
    Pruning thuja hedge shape retention late June to mid-July
    Form and thinning cut solitaire Remove deadwood, preserve shape February to early March

    A taper cut, as you know it from deciduous trees not for grooming of thujas. A regular pruning acts as a continuous rejuvenation, so that a tree of life does not become bare or too big.

    Build Thuja solitaire with a stable basic structure

    Upright-growing Thuja species thrive with multiple skeletal shoots that compete with each other. Each shoot strives - as fast as it can - towards the exposed outside and from there upwards. This creates a one-sided shift in weight from an early age. With snow pressure or strong winds, the shoots simply fall apart. With a gradual build-up cut, you create a stable framework structure that does not immediately collapse under loads, even in later years. Here’s how to do it professionally:

    • Let the 3 strongest bottom shoots grow upwards uncut as a middle thuja
    • Derive lateral shoots from short, lower-lying shoots
    • Pull off to a stair-like build-up of side shoots around the center of the skeleton

    It is important to note for the incision that you limit yourself to the green shoot area when making the incision. Do not wait with the build-up cut until you can only redirect the outer skeleton shoots into the brown area. In this case it is too late and you should delete the type of cut from the care program without replacement.

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    Topping off the top of the center shoot stops height growth

    If you want to stop a thuja from growing tall, cut off the tops of the three leading skeletal shoots. The growth law of peak funding is applied here. This states that a plant always grows strongest on its topmost buds. A large part of the reserve substances is transported to the top buds, because there it goes in the direction of the sunlight. As soon as the top buds are cut off, the tree of life stops growing in height and sprout more from lower-lying buds. You should have a tree of life with final height don't behead. It is better to redirect the top of the plant to a lower positioned side branch that acts as a new top.

    Rarely cut Thuja as a solitary eye-catcher

    A thuja with a stable skeleton will thrive without an annual pruning. As the figure below suggests, pruning care is devoted to long or heavily drooping branches when necessary. This is how the shape and maintenance cut succeeds:

    • Best time is in February
    • Thin out dead shoots inside beforehand
    • Derive branches that protrude or arch overhanging from the shape
    • Apply the scissors to the fork of old and young wood

    To ensure that the removal of individual branches does not leave a gap, proceed as follows: Bend the branch in question to the side. Use this trick to check if the cut leaves a gap or bald spot. If this is the case, choose an intersection point further out.

    If a tree of life becomes too large or individual side shoots overhang, a diversion cut will solve the problem. Divert the offending branches to a shorter, upright side shoot.

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    Cut thuja sculptures often and with a template

    Seasoned home gardeners know that when it comes to plant care, there is no rule without an exception. When cutting thuja, the premise for the topiary of solitary sculptures applies. Spheres, cones, pyramids and figures give you a harmonious shape through frequent cuts and the use of templates. Already during the build-up cut, put the template over the tree of life and cut within the green shoot area. Gradual build-up produces a dense, bushy and dimensionally stable green work of art. From spring to autumn, the scissors are used as often as the progressive growth requires.

    Build a tree of life hedge - you should pay attention to that

    It takes years of patience to set up a thuja hedge with a privacy screen. Even a knee-high enclosure or bed border does not form overnight. In contrast to deciduous shrubs, such as hornbeams or cherry laurels, pruning errors are obvious to every observer for what seems like an eternity. Devote yourself to the pruning of your tree of life hedge with serenity, create an evergreen showpiece for your garden. Here’s how to do it professionally:

    • Blend at least twice a year: February and June (optional: again at the end of August)
    • The new growth Cut back to 3, 4 or 5 centimeters
    • Cut off weak and inward branches
    • Raise a thuja hedge in a trapezoidal shape: broad base and narrow hedge crown
    • Stretch strings along the hedge for orientation

    As illustrated in the figure below, please give your Tree of Life hedge one from the start conical shape. Because the top is narrower than the base, the evergreen wall thrives in light and densely needled. Furthermore, less snow remains on the hedge bushes and the tautly upright skeletal shoots do not fall apart as quickly. Reliable dimensional stability is only achieved through the gradual build-up cut recommended in this tutorial.

    A thuja hedge is always built in a trapezoidal shape. If the build-up cut is done twice a year, there is no risk of having to cut into the unneedled area.

    Cut thuja hedge into shape in February

    If the build-up cut releases the Thuja hedge with the desired final height, an annual shape cut preserves the result achieved. Choose an appointment frost free, overcast day in February. As a result, your hedge will retain a neat appearance for many weeks. The late winter pruning time is also the best opportunity to thin out dead wood and weak branches. How to do it right:

    • Start by thinning out dead wood and inward-pointing shoots with one-handed scissors or a saw
    • Open strings as guides for an accurate trapezoidal cut
    • Pick up the hedge trimmer (€77.00) and set it up with a view of the uncut hedge area
    • With outstretched arms, swing a motorized scissors evenly up and down parallel to the hedge
    • Hedge crowns with horizontal cutter bars cut through pivoting movements from the back

    Always cut in the green-needled shoot area to avoid brown spots and holes in the hedge. In contrast to the construction phase, only a few millimeters of the green coat should remain. If only 1 centimeter is added to the shoot length per topiary and side, your tree of life hedge will widen by an extensive 20 centimeters within 10 years. All considerations and measures to maintain the correct distance to the neighboring property are then obsolete.

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    The right tool for every type of cut

    When you prune a solitary thuja, the pruning focusses on individual shoots that need to be removed or pruned back. In this case, one-hand pruning shears should be ready to hand, either as bypass or anvil shears. Shape cutting of a green tree of life sculpture succeeds perfectly with sheep shears. A knee-high thuja edging shines in top form if you use cordless shrub shears (68.00€) for the cut. You can cut the green wall of a tree of life hedge accurately and effortlessly with electric hedge trimmers, provided there is a socket nearby. Hedges longer than 10 meters call for a petrol-powered hedge trimmer because cordless devices lack the capacity and electric trimmers end up in a tangled mess of cables.

    Care cut only when necessary - that's how it works

    In order to keep a majestic Arborvitae hedge in shape, it is advantageous if you end of June reach for the hedge trimmer again. Thujas thrive denser and bushier the more often you prune. Tighten strings again as marking lines for the advantageous trapezoidal shape. A skilful care cut is limited to shoots that protrude from the hedge shape. Do not prune more in summer than has added growth since the beginning of spring.

    For slow-growing Thuja Smaragd, this year's pruning is over at the end of June (St. John's Day). If it is a stronger-growing arborvitae hedge, such as Thuja Brabant, it is up to your horticulturist to decide in August for the last time to cut before winter. From the beginning of September, the hedge trimmer should rest so that regrowing branches mature in time before the first frost.

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    Check thuja hedge for nesting birds before each cut

    The perfectly maintained tree of life hedge offers birds ideal conditions for the summer breeding business. Examine the hedge before each cut carefully for inhabited bird nests. If you find what you are looking for, the cutting date will be postponed to autumn or next spring. With this approach, you not only act responsibly, but also in accordance with the law. According to the Federal Nature Conservation Act, light pruning is only permitted between March 1st and September 30th if there are no breeding birds in the woods.

    frequently asked Questions

    Is it possible to keep the western tree of life (Thuja occidentalis) at a height of 400 centimeters and a width of 80 centimeters?

    This is easily possible. However, the upbringing does not succeed afterwards on an old tree of life. If you shorten an established thuja and cut it down to the brown wood, it will not sprout again from the inside. If, on the other hand, you initiate the training of a freshly planted tree of life and limit yourself to the annual pruning in the green area, it will also thrive narrow and dense at 80 centimeters in old age.

    My trees of life have visibly turned brown from the inside out this year. Outside the thujas were always nice and green. I shook the bushes a little, dropping a lot of brown needles to the ground. Is that normal? Am I doing something wrong?

    Yes, that's perfectly normal. Like all conifers, thujas thrive with dense needles. Inside, the needles often turn brown due to the lack of light. Basically, a tree of life only has a “green coat”. This aspect is important when editing. Please always measure the cutting depth in such a way that green needles are preserved. If you cut too deep, the branches will die off and a bare branch will stop growing.

    I would like to plant Thuja 'Smaragd' in a tub as a privacy screen for the terrace. What to look out for Which bucket size is right?

    In order for Thuja 'Smaragd' to thrive in the bucket, it depends on an even supply of water and nutrients. So that a tree of life does not tip over in the wind, the container should always be wider than the bush. Unless you prune the plant regularly, a bucket will need to be enlarged every few years. We recommend a pot volume of 30 liters to start with.

    My thuja hedge has grown way too big. On the sides it is nice and dense and green. Can I trim the hedge?

    If the tree of life hedge has grown too high for you, there is nothing to be said against a heavier cut along the crown of the hedge. Tension a string in advance to mark the straight line of the cut. Then cut back the individual Thuja stems to the desired height. From a bird's-eye view, the crown of the hedge appears bare and patchy. You can assume that vigorously growing side branches will close the crown again within a few years. We recommend that you cut the trees of life at eye level at most, in order to take the bare branches out of sight.

    Are thujas poisonous?

    Unfortunately, all Thuja species are poisonous garden plants. Toxins are found in all parts of the plant. The highest concentration is in the tips of the shoots. Intentional or unintentional consumption can lead to nausea, vomiting and even liver and kidney failure. Direct skin contact with the plant sap causes allergic reactions. Wear gloves, protective goggles and long-sleeved clothing for all cutting and care work on the tree of life.

    What to do with thuja clippings?

    Since all parts of the Thuja plant contain toxins, the compost heap is not recommended for disposal of clippings. The leftovers must also not end up on pastures or other places near animals. Cows, horses or sheep are not warned of the toxic ingredients by their instinct and die miserably after consumption. Transport the clippings to the municipal compost facility. Throw away small amounts in the household waste.

    The 3 most common cutting mistakes

    Slow growth and the absence of dormant eyes as an “iron growth reserve” make any mistake when pruning thuja unmistakable for a long time. So that you do not have to be annoyed by a crooked Thuja solitaire or brown, bare hedge areas, the following overview names the most common pruning errors with tips for effective prevention:

    cutting error damage picture prevention
    cut too low bare, brown patches for many years always cut in the green needled area
    no gradual build-up cut prone to snow and wind breakage Educate Thuja gradually over several years
    radical makeover cut Total loss of solitaire and hedge never undergo a makeover cut
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    tips

    A prudent choice of location makes a significant contribution to the fact that a tree of life develops magnificently as a solitaire and hedge. Avoid sunny locations with sandy, dry soil. In such locations, fungal infections and pests have an easy time. Allocate Thuja species and varieties to a place in moderate partial shade, characterized by fresh, summer-moist and nutrient-rich soil.

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