It cuts a fine figure both as a solitary plant and as a hedge plant and is also very easy to care for. We are talking about the Thuja occidentalis Smaragd.
The Thuja occidentalis Smaragd belongs to the species of arborvitae and to the cypress family. The evergreen, hardy plants are mainly used as hedge plants because they grow quickly and form opaque hedges. The thuja hedge is also good wind and noise protection. Emerald Thuys generally grow slender, upright, and conical.
Around the trunk are numerous thin, flexible branches with smooth, slightly shiny needles that create a delicate leaf shape. The leaves are light green in young specimens and fresh shoots, later the color darkens slightly, but always remains a strong green in he althy plants. In autumn, the thuja also has small cones. The leaf color of the Smaragdthuje remains intact even in winter.
Important:
Always be careful. Leaves, twigs and stem contain thujone, an essential oil. This creates an aromatic scent, but be careful, the parts of the plant are poisonous. Contact can cause skin irritation. The leaves must not be eaten under any circumstances.
Growth and growth behavior
Smaragdthujen grow about 20 to 30 centimeters per year. The growth is mainly upwards until they have reached a total height of between 2 and 5 meters. In width, the thuja expands only slightly. Mature plants will grow to about 1 to 2 meters wide when left free and left unpruned.
Location and soil conditions
The Thuja occidentalis Smaragd makes no special demands on the location. It thrives practically anywhere. The soil should be rather moist, humic and rich in nutrients.
For planting as a hedge, a distance of 20 to 40 centimeters between the individual plants is ideal. However, it can also easily stand as a solitary plant in the garden. It is also possible to keep it in a bucket, although the thuja grows better and denser outdoors. Here are further tips on how to plant a thuja correctly.
Care measures and prevention of diseases andPests
cut:
The plant is easy to care for and robust. A particular advantage of the emerald thuja: it can be cut into shape at any time. The cut is often sufficient to limit the height, after it grows narrow anyway. On the sides, only the branches are cut back, which are very annoying. In general, however, the thuja forms a beautiful, cone-like shape that tapers upwards.
Water and fertilize:
Despite being related to the cypress, the thuja is not immune to long periods of heat and drought - so water it regularly in summer.
Individual plants need less fertilizer than hedge plants, but neither plant type can do without it. Fertilizing in the spring with compost, stable manure or a conifer long-term fertilizer is ideal. If the important nutrients are missing, the tips of the leaves turn brown.
Diseases and pests:
Diseases and pest infestations rarely occur on he althy thujas. The main cause is too moist soil, which can promote stem and root rot and fungal infestation. On the other hand, soil that is too dry attracts pests such as beetles, caterpillars and spider mites.