I confess my love: I love thuja. They look great in any style of garden, and a few grow on my site. But sometimes it happens that plants begin to turn yellow, dry and lose needles. I'll tell you why this happens, and what I do in this case.
Seedlings are drying
Young plants dry out very quickly. Therefore, you need to pay attention to the following:
- Open roots in a pot. It is better not to take such seedlings - they will definitely dry out.
- There are too many roots, they stick out from the ground and drainage holes - the seedling is overgrown, it may not withstand transplantation into the ground.
- When you carry seedlings, they need to be watered from time to time, and even better - lightly sprinkle with water not only the roots, but also the needles.
- Before planting the thuja in a permanent place, I always lightly prune the roots and dip them in clay. Then they don't dry out.
Out of ignorance, I almost ruined the first thuja: the seedling was dry, with yellow needles and a drooping top. Fortunately, it was smart enough to put the plant pot in the shade under the trees in the garden and water it abundantly. After about a week, the thuja decided not to die, and I was still able to plant it.
Adult thuja dries
There are also problems with mature plants. Usually they are associated with an unsuccessfully chosen place: thujas do not like too heavy and dense soil, peat bogs and drafts. Sometimes thuja started to dry out for me when I planted them in a too wet area, and even deepened the trunk - or vice versa, planted them shallowly, so that the root collar was exposed. In all cases, the problems disappeared after the transplant.
Well, if the thuja is planted normally, but has begun to dry, there may be several reasons:
- In spring, plants usually suffer from sunburn or frost damage. Here you just need to remember that in winter you still need to slightly cover it with transparent material (it is evergreen, photosynthesis also takes place in winter), having previously pulled together with a garden twine (so that it is more compact and does not break under snow). It is possible to save the burnt thuja if you shade them and water them abundantly.
- In summer, thuja dries either due to lack of moisture - or from its excess. You just need to adjust the watering regime.
- The plant also dries up due to a lack of nutrients, usually iron or phosphorus. Here you need to use complex fertilizers for conifers. In the fall, I also additionally give a little potash fertilizers so that the thuja winters better. The main thing here is not to overdo it in the first year: you cannot give too much fertilizer to a young thuja.
- Incorrect pruning can also be the cause of drying and yellowing. In the first two years, it is better not to touch it too much, limiting itself to removing dead branches. And then it is necessary to form the crown without fanaticism: it is better to repeat the pruning next year than to try to immediately give the thuja a beautiful shape. Adult plants (anywhere from 3-4 years old) can be pruned several times a year, usually in spring and autumn. The main thing is that no more than 20% of the green mass is removed at a time.
- Thuja can also dry and lose needles due to diseases or pests. Pests need to be poisoned with insecticides, and diseases (they are mostly fungal) should be treated. Suitable "Fitosporin-M", "Skor" or a simple Bordeaux liquid.
- In the fall, yellowing may not mean anything. Although thuja are evergreen, they often darken, turn brown or bronze before cold weather. If the needles have changed color, but remained firm and firm, no need to worry, this is a natural process.
In a word, thuja must be planted correctly, fed and watered regularly (on hot summer days, you can arrange and sprinkling throughout the entire plant), do not forget about sanitary pruning - and then it will delight you with a beautiful green needles. Well, if the plant is affected, it is urgent to poison the pests and treat the thuja.
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