Thuja Fastigiata: description, reproduction, cultivation

The article presents thuja Fastigiata: description, reproduction, rules of care, protection, application in landscape design.

Thuja Fastigiata: main characteristics

Thuja Fastigiata: photo

Thuja is an evergreen plant that can reach up to 50 meters in height, the width of the shrub ranges from 1 to 15 meters, while the trunk itself can be up to 8 meters. Thuja has soft needles that are shaped like needles. Thuja cones are different depending on the variety, from round to thin and elongated fruits. The bumps are formed by scales that fit snugly together.
Many varieties are popular with gardeners, but recently more and more people are interested in the Fastigiata variety.

Western thuja Fastigiata: variety description

Thuja Fastigiata description of the appearance of the variety

Fastigiata has very densely spaced needles, the branches are very close to each other, so there is no free space between them. The crown itself resembles either a column or a cone from afar. Scientists call this variety not a shrub, like many thuja, but a full-fledged tree. Since many varieties of thuja are very low, and Fastigiata reaches a growth of 17 meters, but after that it stops growing altogether. This occurs towards full maturity of the tree, when it is about 15 years old. The diameter of the crown of Fastigiata is not more than 4 meters.
This variety can grow on a site for more than 250 years, while delighting its owner with proper care.

Thuja Fastigiata: planting a variety

Thuja Fastigiata: photo of a western variety

This variety is very fond of the sun's rays, so it must be planted in a well-lit place, without any shading. So the needles of the variety will look much more spectacular. But when spring comes, the snow will melt, and the sun's rays will become more aggressive, which must be protected from them with gauze or some kind of fence. Otherwise, the sun can cause burns on the thuja.

In order for the thuja to develop well, the soil must be fertile and moist, but only in moderate quantities; the thuja does not tolerate excess moisture very well. Loamy soil is the best option. Before planting, it must be taken into account that the soil is not marshy and that the groundwater should be far from the planting site. In any case, at the place where the thuja will grow, it is necessary to install a drainage system made of expanded clay or broken brick.
Mulching should be carried out regularly, always in summer, as well as in winter.

Note: If the thuja is planted in the shade and the soil is infertile, then the plant will either not take root, or it will become lethargic and lose its beauty.

On average, thuja annually becomes 25-35 centimeters taller and 3-8 centimeters wider. The crown is initially formed densely and densely, without translucency.

How to propagate western thuja Fastigiata

Thuja Fastigiata needs only basic maintenance work. Its peculiarity is that it develops well in a metropolis, as it is resistant to air pollution. Because of this, it is very often found on the streets of large cities, near museums, hotels and other buildings.

Before planting, you need to get a seedling. You can buy it at a specialty store or nursery, or you can prepare it yourself.Thuja is propagated in three ways: using seeds, cuttings and layering.

Note: If you have chosen to plant with seeds, then you must consider that this is a very difficult and time-consuming process. Moreover, the seeds often do not germinate, and sprouts appear only from 20-30% of all sown seeds. It is also worth paying attention to the fact that this variety very poorly conveys hereditary information to seeds, so the grown sprout may not have the same properties as Thuja Fastigiata.

And if you chose the method by layering or cuttings, then in these methods the germination rate is high and the process itself is faster than using seeds. I would like to note that using their cutting will have absolutely the same properties as the tree from which the shoots were taken.

Thuja Fastigiata: seed propagation

If you have the opportunity to propagate thuja only by seeds, then they must be prepared and properly planted. First, you need to wait for the full maturity of the cones. This usually occurs in late autumn or early winter, it is during this period of time that the seeds are harvested.

• After collecting the cones, they must be thoroughly dried. To do this, they are placed in a room with a temperature of about 3-5 degrees.
• After drying, the seeds must be transferred to cheesecloth and left for a while until the first snow falls.
• After the snow falls, you need to get the seeds and spread them on the territory where the thuja will grow. The seeds are covered with snow and left for an indefinite period of time. The seed must develop by itself.
• With the onset of spring, it is necessary to collect seeds and sow them in well-warmed soil, while the land in the beds should be prepared. The pits should be 8-12 centimeters apart, and each hole should be about 50 millimeters deep. Then the seeds are covered with soil. They are watered a little. Watering the sprouts should be carried out as needed, but the soil should not be allowed to dry out. If done correctly, more than half of the seeds will sprout. To retain moisture and body in the soil, it is necessary to mulch the soil using sawdust or peat. After the first shoots appear, they must be protected from the sun using some kind of fencing so that the plant does not die. During the first 36 months, the plant will not develop more than 35 centimeters. After reaching this height, the seedling must be planted in a permanent place in open ground.

That is, it turns out that the landing will occur only in the fourth or even fifth year after planting. This is a very lengthy process and you should be prepared to wait.

Propagation by cuttings and layering

These methods are very simple and effective, so almost all gardeners use them. For this method, the most important is the choice of the shoot, which will later turn into a full-fledged seedling.
Cuttings should be carried out in the spring, when the soil is well warmed up, thanks to this, thuja will develop better. If you prepare cuttings in the summer, then the root system will develop for a very long time, due to the fact that after spring, autumn will come and changes in the weather, cooling and rains will begin. And this will badly affect the cutting.

How to carry out cuttings?

• The stalk should only be taken from an adult plant that is at least 5-6 years old. So, the cutting will take root faster.
• A shoot about 15 centimeters long should be cut off. In this case, pruning should only be carried out with a garden pruner, which has a very sharp blade.
• After pruning, the shoots must be treated with a manganese solution, leaving them in it for 3-6 hours, and then treated with Kornevin.
• Landing should be carried out only at an angle of 40 degrees and the depth should not exceed 7 centimeters.
• A distance of about 15 centimeters must be respected between the seedlings.

It is worth considering that the shoots should not be lateral, otherwise the seedling will be crooked and, as a result, the thuja will also grow curved.

It turns out that all efforts will be in vain, and the mistake will be in the wrong choice of escape.
If you want to propagate the plant with eyeliners, then you need to select shoots that are located as close to the ground as possible, dig a hole next to them, about 9 centimeters deep and dig it in there. Then you should water well. The soil must be insulated and watered well so that the shoot begins to form its own root system. After this happens, the plant is dived and transplanted to a permanent place.

Note: The planting hole must be suitable for the size of the root system. Experts recommend digging a hole deeper and wider than the roots of the seedling, since it is easier to bury the excess than to dig out the missing. Also, when planting this variety, fertilizer is not applied, since it will have a bad effect on it. Fertilizer should be applied a little later, when the seedling adaptation period has passed.

Thuja Fastigiata: description of care

Watering

For this variety, only basic care is needed, which consists in watering, rare inspection of the plant, feeding, mulching, pruning and loosening the soil.

Note: After the seedlings have established their own root system, they need to be watered less often so that development does not stop.

Only in very dry weather and hot sun watering remains frequent and does not change. But for this, mulching is carried out. So that moisture does not evaporate, but remains in the soil for as long as possible. On dry days, the salvation can be not only watering, but also a thick layer of mulch around the trunk.

Top dressing

Fastiagate does not require fertilizers, only good lighting and the absence of excess moisture will be enough. But if you understand that the sun is not enough, then you need to feed the plant with fertilizer. In this case, it is necessary to apply a complex fertilizer.
Top dressing can be applied in other situations. If you notice that the foliage of the thuja has begun to turn pale, you need to act and apply nitrogen fertilization, just like this, the thuja shows a lack of nitrogen in the soil. Top dressing is applied only during the warm period, either in the spring or in the summer.

Pruning

In the summer, thuja needs pruning. This variety must be cut very carefully and carefully. This is necessary due to the density of the crown, it is necessary to check all the thuja from top to bottom. All excess shoots, which are either weak or poorly developed, should be pruned. You also need to cut off excess branches, if you understand that the branches are too densely located, then weak and thin branches are cut off. The sections are smeared with resin for better healing. The pruner blade must be very sharp so that the work goes quickly and does not injure the plant. Otherwise, you will shred the bark of the tree without ever having to prune it.

The formation of the crown of the tree may or may not be done. This is only a gardener's decision. If he wants to form a different crown shape, then he can calmly get to work. Thuja branches are cut very quickly if a quality tool is used.

Preparing for the winter period

Before the frosts come, Fastiagata needs to be prepared. For this, the crown is protected from wind and drafts. Also, the branches must be protected from snow by tying them up. Since the crown is dense, the branches can break under the weight of the snow. As a result, you need to tie up the branches and cover the whole thuja with burlap.

Protection

How can a tree get sick?

Fastiagata has a fairly high resistance to diseases and pests, but it can still become infected with improper care or planting site.

• If you find spots of brown or yellow color on the tree, then the plant is infected with fungal diseases. Fungal diseases can be easily treated if they are at an early stage. To fight the fungus, you need to use Fundazol. Processing is carried out 2-3 times per season. I would like to note that the spread of the fungus is very slow.First, the shoots are infected, then the needles, and then the bark. The disease can be identified by the lethargic appearance of the plant, although good care is taken.
• When the needles of a thuja turn yellow, while if it is uniform, then this is simply a bad influence of the sun. In this case, it is necessary to limit the intake of sunlight and carry out treatment with any growth stimulant.
• If you notice that the needles begin to crumble, and the young shoots are drying, then it is worth treating the plant with preparations that contain a large amount of copper.
• If, upon examination, you find aphids, then it is worth treating with Karbofos.

Note: In autumn, the needles may turn yellow, but this will not be due to a disease or pest, but due to a natural process. During this period, the plant produces less green pigment, so the plant may become pale and slightly yellow. After the autumn period, the needles will begin to regain their previous color.
This happens every 3-4 years, not more often.

How to use Fastigiata in landscaping

Due to the fact that Fastigiata began to gain its popularity, designers of territories and sites began to be interested in this variety. Due to its beautiful appearance, the designers liked this culture, so this variety can increasingly be seen in many gardens, parks or squares. Moreover, the plant perfectly tolerates air pollution, therefore it becomes the only solution in decorating large cities.

Tuya Fastigiata: video