The thuja hedge has long been considered an inexpensive alternative to boxwood. In the 80s it slowly fell into obscurity and became more and more commonExotics like bambooreplaced. Nowadays the tree of life is celebrating a comeback in the home garden. With good reason, because the plant is frost hardy, vigorous and opaque. However, to ensure that the thuja hedge retains its shape, pruning in spring is an absolute must. We explain how to cut thuja and what you should take into account.
Cutting thuja: why is pruning necessary in spring?
The tree of life is onestrong-growing hedge plant. However, so that the hedge retains its shape, the thuja plants should grow close together and, above all, compactly. Pruning in spring is therefore essential. Also because the arborvitae cannot tolerate heavy pruning and can recover very slowly, often not at all. If you trim your hedge in spring and autumn, you ensure that the thuja plants do not become woody. Cutting back into the old wood means that the hedge remains bare.
Cutting thuja hedges in spring: the basic rules
It is definitely worth trimming the hedge in spring, immediately after the end of winter dormancy. To do this, proceed as follows:
- Use sharp pruning shears to cut off smaller branches and a branch cutter for large old shoots. You can also use motorized shears for tall hedges.
- Disinfect tools with denatured alcohol before and after each use.
- By law, heavy pruning is permitted until the end of February. However, since this does not promote the growth of the thuja plant, it is not recommended. If the hedge is severely frozen or attacked by pests, it can be completely removed.
- From March onwards, a caring topiary is an option. This means that you can only cut off individual branches and parts of the plant. However, check the hedge plants for birds and their nests before you start cutting.
- Avoid trimming the hedge plant on sunny days. Direct sunlight can burn the interfaces. The result: the shoots turn yellow.
- Do not trim the hedge when the thuja leaves are wet. The moisture promotes fungal diseases.
Cutting the Thuja hedge plant: Instructions for a caring cut in spring
1. First check the hedge for diseases and pests. Yellowed or brown shoots are a sign of disease or frost damage. Shorten the shoots down to the green wood.
2. Also check whether there are any dead parts of the plant. These should definitely be removed. It is best to cut them off close to the ground.
3. You should also cut off shoots that cross or rub against each other. The places where the branches rub are susceptible to diseases and pests.
4. In some cases the crown needs to be thinned out. The shoots that do not get sun are removed. This means the plant can dry more quickly and is less susceptible to fungal diseases.
5. At the bottom, the plant is cut so that the hobby gardener has easy access to the root area.
6. You can cut the thuja hedge up to three times a year. APruning in springpromotes growth, the plant sprouts vigorously. The process slows down at the beginning of summer. A caring cut in mid-June can stimulate growth again. However, you should take extra care to ensure that only diseased and woody shoots are removed.
7. If empty spaces appear in the hedge over time, you can guide the new shoots into the gap and tie them together.
Caring for thuja in the bucket: You should keep this in mind when cutting the conifers
The thuja plants in the pot usually do not need any pruning. However, to ensure that your crown retains its beautiful spherical shape, a topiary is necessary. Spring is the perfect time for this. You should adhere to a few basic rules.
- Under no circumstances should you cut the shoots into the old wood. These branches will not grow back.
- Cutting back is out of the question. The plant will not be able to recover.
Thuja cut: what can you do?
When cutting the thuja hedge, you should take extra care to ensure that the hedge is not cut off. If you cut too deeply into the old wood, you can expect serious consequences. Because the tree of life only recovers slowly from a deep cut. Depending on whether it is the entire hedge or individual plants, the following measures can be successful:
- The hedgefertilize regularly. Also use foliar fertilizer for thuja plants
- Water the conifers regularly when dry.
- If you have shortened the side shoots, you should carefully cut off the top at the top. This means the plant will no longer grow strongly upwards, but will instead form new leaves and shoots on the sides.
