Thuja is one of the most common coniferous hedge plants that gives a garden an exotic flair and green freshness all year round. As a rule, it is easy to care for, but to keep the plant looking good and not overgrown, you need to trim your thuja hedge, regularly and at the right time of year. Read on to find out how to properly prune a thuja hedge and what conifer care is needed after summer pruning to ensure your evergreen hedge thrives.
When to cut a thuja hedge
When do you cut thuja hedges? Prune at least twice a year. Pruning should usually be done once at the beginning of the summer and a second time at the end of summer from the end of August to the end of September. How often do you have to cut a thuja hedge? In addition to the two main cuts, you can also trim your hedge more often throughout the year to keep it in good shape. You must not trim your thuja hedge in hot weather. Provide regular moisture to plants before and after cutting.
What goals do thuja cuttings fulfill?
As already mentioned, thuja hedges are trimmed in spring and at the end of summer.The spring cutis good for young thuja trees, which quickly grow new branches to fill the hedge. It is important to prune young thuja trees so that the hedge is properly filled, without gaps.With the cut at the end of summerkeep the hedge in good shape. This is a reduction cut.
If your hedge is overgrown, you can get a stronger one in the springMake a pruning, but don't cut too much. As a rule, you don't need to be afraid, because the young shoots grow back quickly and will soon cover any unsightly areas. We'll explain how to cut an overgrown thuja later.
Tools and equipment for cutting
Here is a list of everything you need before you start pruning the thuja hedge.
- Hedge trimmer
- Garden shears (can also be electric garden shears)
- Posts longer than 2 meters
- cord
- Step ladder or work platform
Wearing safety clothing is also recommended:
- Protective gloves
- Safety glasses
- Ohrenschützer
Please note: This list is not exhaustive; Make sure that your personal protective equipment is tailored to the job at hand.
How to cut a thuja hedge – step-by-step
If you take a few simple steps to properly trim your thuja hedge, it will not only look good, but also be healthy, strong and resistant to snow and storms. With a little care, your hedge will always be green and thick to the ground - just as you wanted it to be. First, it's important to water your thuja plants a day or two before cutting because they need moisture to help the wounds heal and grow new branches.
Trimming the sides of the hedge
Cut from bottom to top. It is important that the blade is kept parallel to the hedge. Cut the new growth back about two-thirds of the length. Start by trimming the vertical sides of the hedge. Only use sharp tools to cut the shoots. It is best to cut the hedge slightly diagonally, slightly thicker at the base than at the top. This gives the foliage a little more sunlight, which in turnto healthy growthshould contribute. It's best to use hedge trimmers to get a more even result and avoid holes in the hedge.
Trim the top part
After you have trimmed the sides and are happy with the result, trim the top part of the hedge. How do you proceed? Mark the desired cutting height by placing a few stakes on each side of the hedge and stretching a string between them. The cord should run horizontally.
In general, you should cut back about 30cm with each cut. However, if you live in a region that receives a lot of snow in the winter, a rounded tip is better as this shape prevents snow from accumulating and damaging the foliage.
Cut the thuja hedge after planting
How to cut your young thuja hedge? This is an important question because with the first cut of the freshly planted thuja hedge you decide what growth form the hedge should have. Cut the new thuja hedge for the first time when it has grown really well. If thujas were planted in spring, they are cut for the first time in spring. Since rooting works very slowly in winter, the thuja usually needs the following season to root. Cutting takes place shortly before budding in spring.
Pruning is necessary in the first year because the young plant begins to grow vigorously after rooting. For a perfect columnar shape, every branch that wants to break out of the columnar shape is cut off during the first cut. For the columnar shape of your thuja, the varieties 'Columna', 'Holmstrup', 'Rosenthalii' and 'Spiralis' are a good choice.
How to cut an overgrown thuja
Hedge plants tend to grow quickly and overgrow. If not trimmed regularly, they can turn into a jungle. However, you can solve the problem if you act quickly and prune your thuja hedges in a timely manner. What should you do if you have an overgrown thuja?
Consider that if you have not trimmed for a long time, you should not over-prune the hedge. Conifers in general don't like pruning too hard. If you cut too hard, larger gaps will not be closed and the hedge will not look nice. If you cut too hard, your thuja will, in the best case, not look much better after the cut and in the worst case, the branches will dry out and the thuja will start to rot.
Thuja is ideal as an opaque privacy hedge. A new width of dense, lush green growth will sprout from the ends of the previous year's growth if properly cared for. Like any other plant, conifers also needa certain careso that they can grow properly and thrive. You should not only take pruning, but also some other important care measures in order to be able to enjoy your plants for a long time.
How often to water conifers
After planting, water your new conifer thoroughly to ensure good root-to-soil contact. How often to water during the plant's growing season? For the first few years, you should water when the soil feels dry about 2 inches below the surface. After 3 to 5 years, little or no additional water is needed, assuming you live in a climate where it rains naturally during the growing season. If you live in a summer-dry climate, supplemental watering is usually necessary if the soil feels parched. Do not overwater the tree to prevent the roots from becoming susceptible to root rot.
Do thuja hedges need fertilizer
Should you fertilize your thuja hedge? As a rule, conifers rarely need fertilizing and do not benefit from the additionof organic material. What is the besthomemade fertilizers for evergreen plants? Dissolve 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt in 4 L of water. Shake the solution thoroughly. Use the solution to water your plants. Water them with this solution once a month during the growing season.
General growing conditions for evergreen plants
Thuja are best planted in moist, well-drained soil of lime, clay, sand or loam with an acidic, alkaline or neutral PH balance. They thrive best in soil that retains moisture. Plant them in a location that allows for their potential growth height and spread without interfering with other plants or structures. Conifers thrive best when they receive at least six hours of direct sun per day. The plants can also tolerate light shade. Uniform moisture is an important requirement for conifers to thrive.
Some more easy-care hedge plantscan be found here.
