Thuja Amber is a beautiful ornamental plant with a golden yellow shade of needles. It looks great in landscape design and is easy to maintain.
Features of growing western thuja amber
Description of the plant
Western thuja Amber reaches a height of 4-5 m. Every year the tree grows by about 20 cm. The shape of the crown is narrow-conical.
The main feature is the unusual yellow needles. In winter, it takes on an amber-sunny hue.
Cones grow in small numbers. They are small, light green in color. Turn brown with age. Thuja branches are dense, dense, directed upwards. The root system is quite branched, has 2-3 deep roots, but in general it is located closer to the surface.
Landing
When choosing a seedling, it is better to make sure that its root system is in good condition: the coniferous plant is easily pulled out of the container and the earthen ball does not collapse.
Living and healthy roots are light pinkish in color, but if they are black, they are most likely dried up. If you squeeze the leaves in the palm of your hand, they should quickly straighten. If the tree is weak or sick, the effect will be the opposite.
How to plant
Tuika can be planted alone or in combination with other hedge crops. In the latter case, the distance between plants should be at least 50 cm.
The tree is best planted in well-lit areas. In principle, it grows well in partial shade, but the amber color is no longer so pronounced.
A seedling in a container is watered before planting, and then pulled out along with an earthen clod. If the soil in the garden is light, you can do without drainage, otherwise a layer of expanded clay (15-20 cm) is placed in the planting hole.
The soil removed from the hole is mixed with peat and complex fertilizers are added (according to the instructions), after which the plant is covered, leaving the root collar at ground level.
Care rules
Thuja is very unpretentious in care, but correct agricultural technology helps to grow a beautiful and healthy tree.
The Amber variety tolerates frost, urban conditions and pruning well. However, when the soil dries out, it can thin out, so you need to ensure regular watering and sprinkling.
Watering
After planting, watering is carried out weekly, in hot weather - 2-3 times a week. For an adult tree, 10 liters of water are used; for young seedlings, 1/3 or half of a bucket is enough (depending on age and height). In the evenings, you can sprinkle the crown.
Mulching
Mulch reduces moisture evaporation and improves air access to the roots. The trunk circle can be mulched with fallen needles, dry leaves, peat. Chopped twigs or sawdust will also work.
Top dressing
Thuja is suitable for growing hedges
It is better to use instant complexes for conifers as top dressing. They can be added once a season - in the spring. If necessary, at the end of summer, the tree is fed with potash fertilizers.
Pruning
Formative and sanitary pruning is carried out in early spring. Branches are cut that unnecessarily thicken the crown, as well as spoiled and dry ones. After the procedure, the tree can be fed and treated with prophylactic agents against pests.
Reproduction
Usually thuja is propagated by cuttings, they do it in autumn or spring. The apical shoot is cut, reaching 15-20 cm, with a "heel". It is treated with a growth stimulant and deepened into the prepared substrate (a mixture of earth and peat, calcined in the oven and spilled with manganese).
The most important thing is to regularly moisten the soil using a spray bottle. However, this should be done in moderation - with excessive watering, young roots can rot. For effective rooting, cuttings are placed in a greenhouse or covered with a glass container.
Use in landscape design
Due to the original color of the needles, tuika is successfully used in garden landscape design. The amber tree is very beautiful, it creates a bright sunny accent in a group of green park or manor plants. Great for single planting and for growing hedges in 1 or 2 rows.
Another reason for its popularity is the correct conical shape of the crown. Slender thuja looks neat, graceful and very decorative. In addition, it is often used to create unique container compositions.
Gardeners reviews
According to the description of gardeners, thuja Amber takes root well and grows in temperate climates, but for the winter it is better to insulate it, protect it from wet snow and strong winds (especially young plants).
Thuja western Amber. Thuja occidentalis Jantar at a glance, characteristics description
Thuja occidentalis Jantar® Thuja occidentalis Jantar®
Conifers for the garden. Thuja, golden form. Garden World site
There are cases of tuika fungal diseases. As a preventive measure, agrotechnics recommend treating needles with Bordeaux liquid.
Judging by the reviews, when planting at a younger age, the tree adapts much better and goes faster in height. By the first decade, it usually reaches 1.5-2 m.