Small evergreen beauty - spherical thuja - won the hearts of gardeners around the world. This is not surprising: an ornamental plant is able to take root in any conditions, without requiring special care. There are only five types of thuja: Sichuan, Korean, Japanese, giant and western. However, only western thuja can be grown in Russia, and she will become the main character of this article! Do not be confused - we will not talk about the types of spherical thuja, but about the varieties of one type of thuja.
Teddy
This variety has appeared recently and has already gained unprecedented popularity. It's all about his amazing appearance. Thanks to the dense and lush crown, this spherical thuja variety looks like a bright pillow. In addition, Teddy is the most fluffy and soft variety, and therefore is in demand even though it is considered quite capricious. The evergreen dwarf grows slowly, at the age of ten its height is no more than 30 cm, and its width is 40 cm.
Among the advantages of Teddy, one can note its endurance to shaded areas - a couple of hours spent under the sun's rays is enough for this variety. However, the plant needsregular watering, otherwise the needles will turn yellow. In order for the branches of the thuja Teddy to grow evenly, you should not overfeed the bush.
This globular arborvitae is perfect for creating stone gardens and alpine slides. At the same time, it is important to take into account the change in the color of the needles at different times of the year - in the fall, Teddy changes the rich green hue to bronze. This variety is combined with other arborvitae, lush flowers and ornamental shrubs. In addition, Teddy is suitable for placement on verandas, balconies and even in rooms! Green thuja will add color and freshness to any interior.
Danika
This variety was bred in 1948 in Denmark. It can be called one of the most compact representatives of spherical thuja. It grows slowly - the annual growth in height is about 5 cm, in width - 4 cm. In ten years, with proper planting and care of the thuja, Danica can grow up to 50 cm, and its diameter will not exceed a meter!
One of the main advantages of this variety is unpretentiousness. Danica feels great in shaded areas, it also grows in direct sunlight. The only thing that thuja will not tolerate is proximity to groundwater. In this case, the plant must receive enough moisture. The soil is better to choose fertile. How to care for and plant thuja Danica? First, you need to choose shoots with a strong root system, without damaged roots. A layer of crushed stone should be laid out in the landing pit. By the way, it is worth planting a plant in the spring - over the summer the root system will develop, the thuja will strengthen and overwinter without problems. Beforethe onset of cold weather is to cover the young shoots with burlap. After each watering, coniferous shrubs must be loosened, and once a year - mulched. Gardeners recommend cutting Danica in early spring. Damaged, dry branches should be removed.
In garden design, this globular thuja can be combined with other shrubs of the same shape. Group plantings look organic. Of course, such a hedge will not become an obstacle to prying eyes, but it will add comfort and completeness to the garden!
Tiny Tim
Tiny Tim has been in the gardens for over 50 years. Thuja needles have a deep dark green color. Representatives of this variety grow extremely slowly - at the age of ten, Tiny Tim's height is only 30 cm. The diameter of the thuja can reach one and a half meters.
Caring for Tiny Tim will not be difficult even for beginner gardeners. The shrub does not make special demands on the composition of the soil. The main condition is a large amount of sunlight.
This globular thuja in landscape design is usually used to create alpine slides. You can plant it in groups, or you can singly. Either way, this delightful shrub will brighten up the garden!
Hoserie
This masterpiece was invented by Polish breeders. Thuja Khozeri is miniature, but it has a unique texture. This variety of western thuja loves the sun's rays, so you should approach the choice of a place for it responsibly. Hoseri does not make special demands on the soil.
Compact thuja looks good next to other miniature plants. Diversify the garden compositions with lush flowers, such as peonies. By the way, very often Hozeri is planted along the facades of shopping centers, residential buildings. It is suitable for decorating borders.
Golden Globe
Thuya Golden Globe has a rich yellow color. With age, the color changes to golden. This dwarf coniferous ball enlivens the landscape even on gloomy days! Closer to winter, the color of the thuja becomes copper. A cute dwarf grows very slowly, 7-9 cm per year. By the age of 20, the diameter of the shrub will be about 120 cm.
Gardeners love the Golden Globe thuja for its unpretentiousness: it does not need to be cut, the soil can be almost any, there is no need for frequent fertilizer. No need to cover the plant for the winter - it is frost-resistant. Occasionally, thuja needs to be watered and damaged branches removed. Sanitary pruning of thuja stimulates growth, makes the crown thicker.
Low thuja looks great in small gardens as tapeworms. The Golden Globe shrub is perfect for forming hedges, it can be combined with flowering plants and thujas of other varieties. A miniature thuja will decorate office premises, apartments, balconies and terraces, because it can be grown in containers.
Bowling Ball
The name of this thuja speaks for itself. This spherical shrub has ideal symmetrical forms. Its height can reach 70 cm, and the diameter is usually 100 cm. The needles look likefringe, tightly pressed to the shoots. Closer to the cold, the green color of the crown acquires a bronze hue.
Globular thuja of the Bowling Ball variety can take root even in a shaded area. The soil for it should be nutritious, it is important to ensure timely watering. With proper care, the annual growth of coniferous shrubs can be 16-19 cm.
Bowling Ball is an indispensable element of Japanese and heather gardens, alpine slides, walking paths. Thuja will decorate the shore of a small reservoir and forest edges.
Woodwardy
One of the most popular varieties is Woodwardy's globular thuja. Its low growth (about half a meter) and shade tolerance allow it to be used as undergrowth and planted among tall trees. Thanks to this, it is possible to create a landscape on the site that is as close to natural as possible.
Among the advantages of the variety are good survival of seedlings, relative unpretentiousness and resistance to frost. Even -40 ° C will not harm the shrub. A young plant will need shelter before the cold. Experts recommend covering thuja with burlap for the winter. You need to shoot it no earlier than the snow melts.
In the early years, Woodwardy has a strict spherical shape, but with age it stretches and takes on the shape of an oval. By the way, among other benefits, gardeners highlight the healing properties of the plant - Woodwardy ionizes and purifies the air!
Hovea
This variety is considered one of the fastest growing. Spherical thuja for 10 yearsgrows up to 1.5 meters! The shape of the ball changes with age to an ovoid. Hovea has many virtues:
- she is unpretentious, grows in almost any soil;
- thuja tolerates frost well;
- drought and high humidity are not terrible for this variety;
- haircut will not be stressful for the bush.
In winter, juicy green turns brown. How can spherical thuja be used in landscape design? Hovea is a great option for small areas. But it also looks advantageous in spacious panoramic parks. Thanks to the possibility of growing thuja in a container, you can decorate balconies and loggias, roofs of buildings.
Smaragd
This is another representative of the western arborvitae. At the very beginning of its growth, the thuja Smaragd is spherical, but over the years it is significantly extended. A few decades after planting, the shrub can reach a height of five meters! But for this it is important to follow all the rules for caring for a capricious ephedra!
Smaragd prefers loamy, lime-rich soil. It is recommended to plant thuja in sunny places. The plant needs periodic watering, mulching and loosening. The result of proper care will please - the thuja will acquire a dark green color that will not lose even in winter! If you want a thuja to please more than one generation of your descendants, feel free to plant a thuja of this variety: its lifespan can be more than 150 years!
An amazing plant used as hedges. Less commonly, gardeners plant it in containers. Smaragd is the best suited for creating garden sculptural compositions.
Little Champion
Bright and compact - this is how you can characterize the spherical thuja of the Little Champion variety. The maximum height of the shrub will not exceed one and a half meters, and the width is 90-100 cm. True, the growth process is extremely slow. By the age of 10, the Champion will only grow to 70-80 cm.
This arborvitae is hardy but will need some light cover to protect it from snow pressure. The plant prefers partial shade, it needs moist fertile soils. With proper care, the thuja will acquire a beautiful green color, which will change to bronze-brown in winter.
Seat selection and boarding
You are now familiar with the main varieties of globular thuja. How to grow these pretty shrubs? You should start by choosing a place.
Experienced gardeners say - thuja can grow in any area. But to improve the appearance, it is better to choose a bright place. In the shade, a coniferous shrub may lose its splendor and change color. It is important that there are no drafts in the selected area.
Two weeks before planting, you need to prepare a hole. The depth should not exceed 70-80 cm. Drainage must be laid out at the bottom. The soil must be prepared independently: it is necessary to mix two parts of soddy land and one part of peat and sand. It is worth adding 5 grams of nitroammophoska to the mixture. It is best to plant thuja in open ground in a permanent place at the age of 5-7 years. It is worth doing this in the fall, before frost, or in early spring.
It is important to observe the interval between plants. For small spherical thuja, it should not be less than one meter. After planting, the plant will need watering and top dressing. Any growth stimulants are perfect. The substances included in their composition will help plants take root and protect seedlings from diseases.
Care
Caring for miniature conifers consists of three main steps - watering, fertilizing and pruning.
Both young shoots and adult arborvitae prefer a humid environment. It is best if water flows not only to the roots, but also to the crown. Moisture will help maintain a good shape of the plant: the color of the needles will become brighter, besides, it will gain shine, the branches will become elastic.
The optimal watering regime is 10 liters of water per week. In the summer heat, the plant will need 10 liters of water every two to three days. It is quite simple to understand that thuya needs water - due to lack of moisture, the crown will turn yellow, a large number of not very beautiful cones will appear on the plant. Loosening immediately after watering will help prevent decay.
In the first two or three years after planting, it is not necessary to feed the thuja. Later, organic and mineral substances can be added at the rate of 100 grams per 1 sq. m. The thuja reacts to the introduction of top dressing with increased growth, splendor. Often it is not necessary to fertilize shrubs, it is enough to do this 1-2 times at the beginning of the season. You can use ordinary compost, fertilizers for coniferous plants are also suitable.
Pruning arborvitae is necessary to limit the height andcrown formation. More than 10% of the crown cannot be cut from miniature plants. If you cut more, the plant may die. The best time for this procedure is April, but you can slightly adjust the shape of the crown throughout the summer. You need to start with branches that grow incorrectly. Then it is recommended to remove diseased and dry shoots. Thin out the thuja for air circulation.
Pests and diseases
Problems with spherical thujas occur only in two cases - when diseases or pests appear.
Excessive fertilizer leads to burns of the root system, and consequently, to yellowing of the crown of coniferous shrubs. Another reason for the appearance of a yellow tint is the defeat of thuja aphids. It usually damages the lower part of the shoots. Spraying with karbofos will help protect the plant from this pest.
Another dangerous pest is the moth. Its size is only 4 mm, but it is a serious danger. After the defeat of the thuja pestryanka, the upper part of the shoots of the shrub dies off, the needles turn brown. As a preventive measure, thuja can be treated several times with pyrethroid-based preparations. The best time for this is the end of June.
With an excess of moisture, the plant can infect phytophthora. This disease affects the root of the thuja, and then moves to the top layer. The shrub withers, the needles acquire a gray color, the trunk becomes soft. Thuja roots acquire a rotten smell.
Late blight is easier to prevent than to cure. To do this, it is necessary to loosen the earth around the thuja, water itfungicides. If the disease still got to the bush, the thuja should be burned, and the land should be changed.
In early spring, the plant can be affected by another disease - it develops brown shoots. If treatment is not started in time, the branches of the plant will begin to die. To avoid this, remove all browned shoots. After - be sure to sprinkle with limestone and spray with foundation.
