Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Choose a Good Location
• Part 2 of 3: Plant the seeds or seedlings
• Part 3 of 3: Maintain Your Planted Trees
• Tips

Thuja is a thick coniferous tree, the height of which can reach 61 meters. These trees perfectly complement the garden as a hedge or natural fence between plots. Since there are so many varieties of thuja, choose a species based on your lawn conditions and preferred growth type. To help thuja adapt to your climate, you need to prepare the place where the tree will grow, carefully plant the seedling and properly care for it. Before you have time to look back, a beautiful and strong thuja will grow in your garden!

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Choose a Good Location

1. 1 Plant thuja in fall or spring. So the tree will have time to adapt to the new climate before the hot summer or frosty winter sets in. Whenever possible, try to plant thuja in late fall or early winter, depending on your preference.
   • Because of its height, thuja is not suitable for indoor cultivation, so it must be planted outdoors.
2. 2 Choose a spot that is sunny or with partial shade. Although thuja can grow in the shade, it still prefers sunny locations. Find a spot in your garden that has 6 to 8 hours of sunshine to help the tree adapt to the local climate more quickly.
   • Although thuja is able to adapt to different conditions, it still prefers a sunny and humid climate. If you live in a region where the sun does not shine for 6-8 hours, the tree will grow under such conditions, but more slowly.
   • If you live in an area with hot summers, the tree will need shade in the afternoon for full growth.
3. 3 Prepare well-drained clay soil for the tree. Thuja prefers moist soil with abundant nutrients. Add compost or organic mixture to the soil to help the tree adapt to its new location.
   • To test how well the soil allows water to pass through, dig a hole 30 cm deep and fill it with water. The land is suitable if the water disappears in 5-15 minutes.
   • Thuja also grows best in alkaline or non-acidic soil. To check the acidity of the earth, order a pH test kit online or buy one from a garden center.
4. 4 Choose a location where the tree will be protected from the wind. For the first few years after planting, the tree will need some kind of wind protection. Choose a low-lying location next to some kind of obstruction, such as a wall, building, or large tree, to keep the wind out.
   • If you can't find a good spot, be sure to tie the tree up after planting.

Part 2 of 3: Plant the seeds or seedlings

1. 1 Buy thuja seedlings if you want to plant them right away. If you have already prepared for planting, purchase seedlings from your nearest garden center or nursery. Find seedlings with a healthy green color and no signs of disease or damage.
2. 2 Plant thuja seeds in pots if you're in no rush. If it's not spring or fall and you have time to germinate your seeds, plant them in pots and grow them indoors. As soon as the season comes when the thuja can be planted, transplant it into the garden.
   • Indoors, only thuja seedlings can be grown. For a tree to reach its maximum height and still be healthy, it must grow outdoors.
3. 3 Plant trees in a row. Thuja makes an excellent natural fence or hedge. If you are planting multiple trees, dig holes along one line so that the thuja grows in a row.
   • Plant the seedlings 60 cm apart so they have enough room to grow.
   • Insert wood sticks where you plan to plant trees for a more organized arrangement.
4. 4 Remove the seedling from the pot and untangle the roots. Turn the pot upside down and gently tap the bottom to dislodge the seedling and lift it up by the trunk. Remove the seedling along with the root ball and untangle the outer roots so that they absorb nutrients better after planting.
   • Untangle the roots carefully to avoid damaging them.
5. 5 Dig a hole about the same depth as the root ball. Measure the length of the roots from top to bottom and from side to side, and then write down the measurements. First, dig a hole deep enough for the roots to fit, and then make it 2-3 times wider than the root ball so the soil is loose enough for the roots to grow.
   • For example, if the root ball is 30 cm in diameter, dig a hole 30 cm deep.
   • Add compost to the soil before filling the hole to help the rootball receive more nutrients.
   • Cover the roots with earth, but under no circumstances cover the trunk of the tree, otherwise the roots may rot.
6. 6 Insert the seedling into the hole and cover it with earth. Gently lower the seedling into the hole and then cover the roots with soil. After that, take a good look at the tree to make sure you haven't buried the trunk of the tree and that no roots stick out above the ground.
   • The buried tree must be level with the ground. Otherwise, the tree will grow downhill.
   • Covering the trunk of a tree with earth can lead to the development of fungal infections and other diseases.

Part 3 of 3: Maintain Your Planted Trees

1. 1 Water the tree with at least 2.5 cm of water every week. Thuja prefers to be in moist rather than dry or wet soil. Check the dryness of the soil every day by dipping your finger into it. If the ground is dry to the touch, then the tree needs to be watered.
   • In dry climates without frequent rainfall, thuja may need more water. Look at how dry the soil is so you know when to water the trees.
   • If the tips of the needles turn brown or yellow and the foliage withers, then the tree is not getting enough water.
2. 2 Fertilize thuja in spring. Fertilize your trees every year to provide them with the nutrients they need. Buy a nitrogen-rich fertilizer from your garden center or greenhouse and spray the trees in a thin, even coat.
   • Fertilize trees every year to increase the nutrient content of the soil before the growing season.
3. 3 Cover trees with mulch summer and winter. Sprinkle 7.6 cm of mulch around the tree trunk twice a year (or more often if needed). This will cool the tree in summer and warm it in winter.
   • Mulch also allows you to retain moisture, thereby mimicking the natural moist environment in which thuja grows.
4. 4 Prune the tree to maintain its natural shape. Trim dry branches and overgrown areas with pruning shears and shape the tree into the desired shape. Do not prune more than ¼ foliage at a time to avoid shocking the tree.
   • To keep the thuja healthy, most trees need to be pruned about once a year.

Tips

• Thuja thrives best in humid and damp climates. If you live in dry climates, the tree will need good care before it gets used to its environment.
• Since thuja can be up to 61 meters tall, find a place where the tree will not interfere with other plants or buildings.