Thuja Holmstrup (Thuja occidentalis Holmstrup) is a popular variety of decorative ephedra with a conical crown. The plant is native to Canada, but this particular variety was bred by Danish breeders. Tuika is distinguished by good winter hardiness, unpretentiousness and versatility.
Thuja western Holmstrup
Brief information about the variety
- Colour: deep green.
- Height: 2-3 m.
- Crown width: 100 cm.
- In which regions is it growing: recommended for frost resistance zone 4, it is grown in the middle lane, in the northwest, and also in the south.
- Landing features: in a sunny place or in partial shade.
- Immunity: tall.
- Life span: 150 years old.
Description of the plant
The height of the tree does not exceed 3 m, the average width is 100 cm. The crown has a regular conical shape.
Branched shoots provide good density and density, convenient for formation. The color of the thuja is rich green, it does not change throughout the year.
The needles are scaly, soft to the touch. The root system is located close to the surface. The tree grows slowly, adding about 10-15 cm in growth annually.
Growing regions
Tuyu Holmstrup can be grown in the frost resistance zone 4 and warmer. She calmly tolerates cold temperatures down to -34 ° C.
It is recommended for planting in central Russia (Central and Black Earth regions, the Volga region), including the North-Western regions.
In the southern regions, the tree needs good watering, regular sprinkling and shading.
Landing
When buying a thuja, it is better to give preference to seedlings with a closed root system.
The soil in the pot should be moist, the shoots should be green, dense, with new growths. Choose a tree without any damage to the trunk, with lively pinkish roots.
Landing place
Tuika can grow in the sun or shade. In the latter case, the crown will turn out to be less bright and less dense.
The tree is unpretentious to the soil: slightly acidic or slightly alkaline soils, moderately moist, but far from groundwater, are suitable for it. The soil should be sufficiently loose (in black soil and dense clay, a good drainage layer is needed).
Landing technology
The planting hole is dug out, focusing on the size of the earthen coma - they make it 1.5-2 times more spacious.
On dense soils, the depth is 1 m, of which 20 cm falls on the laying of the drainage layer (sand, expanded clay, broken clay brick).
A bucket of water is poured into the hole and allowed to soak. The plant is placed inside and sprinkled, leaving the root collar at ground level. The earth is compacted and moistened, mulched.
Care
Thuja must be regularly looked after
Proper care of thuja ensures its intensive growth and good decorative effect. In addition, it is the most important disease prevention.
Tui Holmstrup are unpretentious, but they need regular watering, sprinkling, mulching and sanitary pruning.
Watering
The first time after planting, the plant is watered twice a week, focusing on the condition of the soil. In the cool period, watering is reduced to one fold, in the dry period it is increased, supplemented with evening sprinkling. 10-12 liters of water are usually used per 1 m of tree height.
Top dressing
Fertilizers can be applied in early spring - once a season or supplemented with top dressing at the end of August.
The optimal choice would be a special complex of minerals for conifers (with a minimum amount of nitrogen).
Granules are laid out in the near-trunk circle or the crown is sprayed with a liquid composition. If the tuika has not endured the winter well, stimulants like Agrecol or Epin are used, which also protect the plant from pests.
Mulching and loosening
The soil of the trunk circle is loosened shallowly - by 5-6 cm. A layer of mulch is laid on top to protect against moisture evaporation and the appearance of weeds. You can mulch with peat crumbs, crushed bark, sawdust, needles, dry leaves.
Pruning
Tuika tolerates formation well - it can be given any topiary forms. However, shaping can be minimal as the crown naturally grows in a conical shape.
Every year, in early spring, they do sanitary pruning: remove damaged shoots, thin out a little, cut dry twigs.
Reproduction
Tuyu is propagated by seeds or vegetatively, but the second method is more popular and widespread.
When propagated by seeds, varietal characteristics are not always preserved.
Cuttings are prepared in April - twigs with a "heel" 12-15 cm long are cut or broken off. They are placed in a growth stimulator solution for a day, and then deepened into a nutritious substrate (earth and peat in equal proportions).
The cuttings are placed in a greenhouse - under film, glass or plastic bottles. The soil is regularly moistened, and the greenhouse is ventilated. Rooting usually takes 2-4 months. Due to the good winter hardiness of thuja in temperate regions, rooted seedlings can be planted in open ground, but insulated for the winter.
Diseases and pests
The tree is highly immune
Thuja western Holmstrup is distinguished by high immunity, however, with excessive moisture there is a risk of fungal diseases.
Full care will be the best preventive measure: good drainage, mulching, proper watering and feeding.
You can add to it spraying with Bordeaux liquid, and at the first signs of a fungus - with medicinal preparations.
Common pests of thuja are false shield insects, aphids and spider mites.
Noticing insects on a tree, the crown is washed with a solution of laundry soap (10-15 ml of medical alcohol is sometimes added to 1 liter of the product). In serious cases, insecticides are used.
May beetle larvae can threaten the root system - drugs based on imidacloprid are used to combat them.
In landscape design
Thuja Holmstrup is very popular in landscape design, especially for decorating ceremonial places. The plant can be called versatile - it is suitable for city parks, alleys, building facades, spacious and small areas.
Most often, the culture is used for hedges, but it is also planted as a tapeworm or to supplement compositions with other conifers.
Often it is placed along the roads - the tree normally tolerates car exhaust and dustiness. If formed, thuyu is grown in containers on terraces, verandas, balconies or cramped courtyards without planting space.
The dense branches and dense crown are great for creating topiary figures in landscape design.
Tuika looks great in garden labyrinths, contrasting compositions, mixborders, and also as a background for bright flowers and original ornamental plants.
Reviews
According to the description of gardeners, thuja Holmstrup perfectly keeps its conical shape, acquiring it naturally as it grows, and therefore needs minimal formation.
Most people call caring for her completely easy. The focus should be on proper watering and mulching.
Thuja western Holmstrup (thuja occidentalis holmstrup) 🌿 review: how to plant, seedlings of thuja Holmstrup
Thuja western Holmstrup. Brief overview, description of characteristics, where to buy seedlings
Thuja western "Holmstrup" | Plante.md
The tree reacts well to spring fertilizing with mineral complexes, but judging by some reviews, it does well without fertilizers on fertile soils.
Gardeners are especially pleased with the rich green color of the ephedra, which remains so all year round, successfully revitalizing the site in the winter.