How to care for thujas in autumn: what to feed, how and when to prune

The longevity and appearance of your thuja depend on how well you care for it in the fall. When and what to fertilize this evergreen tree with, what fertilizers are best avoided, how to prune it and prepare it for winter cold, and what mistakes to avoid—we'll discuss these in more detail below.

Autumn care for thuja

With proper autumn care and the necessary winter preparations, you'll ensure your plant has the conditions it needs to survive the winter successfully. Here's what to consider:

1. Plant feeding.
2. Stimulation of the root system.
3. Watering.
4. Trimming.

Stop applying nitrogen fertilizers

In the fall, stop fertilizing your thuja with nitrogen. This fertilizer stimulates the formation of new shoots. By the time cold weather sets in, these shoots won't have time to strengthen and may die over the winter. The last time you apply this fertilizer is in mid-August.

Stimulation of the root system

Another equally important step you should take to properly prepare your thuja for winter is stimulating the root system. Not all thujas require this, only young shoots and those that have been transplanted To replant the shrub before winter, treat it with root growth stimulants such as Kornevin or Zircon. Dilute the products in 10 liters of water: 10 g of Kornevin and 40 drops of Zircon. Water the tree with the resulting solution. A few days after this treatment, water the shrub with 30 liters of water, pouring it into the trunk circle. This procedure is necessary to hydrate the roots and prevent them from freezing.

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Watering

If your region typically experiences dry autumns, you should water your thuja regularly. This coniferous shrub thrives on moisture, but keep in mind that too much will cause root rot. Water the plant generously before winter. This will saturate the roots for a long time, and the frozen ground around the shrub will protect them from freezing by keeping the soil frozen longer.

Trimming

Pruning is another essential autumn care routine for conifers. It ensures healthy growth and a beautiful shape. It's crucial not to overdo it when pruning conifers in the fall. If you expose too much of the tree's foliage, it won't have time to recover and may not survive the winter cold.

Why is pruning necessary? Pruning is primarily necessary to remove dead and diseased shoots. Failure to do so in a timely manner can result in the death of the entire thuja.

Sometimes, not the entire branch is affected, but only a small part. In this case, don't remove it entirely. Trim only the affected part. Simply run your hand over the branch, and the dried, diseased needles will fall off on their own. You can expect healthy needles to grow in their place, saving the tree.

Additionally, thujas are pruned to correct their shape. To maintain the bush's original appearance, prune any trunks that have grown too tall. This will also encourage the growth of lateral branches. Pruning the tree will ensure good air circulation and protect it from pests.

Thuja tolerates pruning well, both in spring and fall. It's fine to prune a third time. There are no specific timeframes for pruning. The main requirements for pruning are dry, precipitation-free weather and temperatures above 4°C (4°F).

It's important to prune your thuja correctly. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Remove all dried and insect-damaged branches from the top of the coniferous bush.
2. Trim off any shoots that are sticking up.
3. Clear the inside of the plant of excess branches.

You can shape a coniferous bush to your liking. Purchase a metal form designed for shaping at a gardening store and place it over the plant. Once the empty spaces have filled in, remove any shoots that protrude upward. This technique is called topiary pruning. Other types of pruning include ball pruning and spiral pruning. These pruning techniques are similar to topiary pruning: removing any branches that protrude upward until the bush achieves the desired shape.

Do I need to feed my thuja in the fall?

Thujas don't require special fertilizer in the fall, except after pruning, when they should be fertilized. After pruning, the plant is weakened and should be carefully inspected. If you notice pests such as scale insects or aphids, be sure to spray the bush with insecticides designed for conifers. After pruning, fertilize the thuja using the following fertilizers:

• green manure;
• manure;
• complex mixtures intended for coniferous plants.

The most important thing to remember when fertilizing is to use reasonable amounts. Excessive amounts of fertilizer can lead to the death of the plant. This is because fertilizing overstimulates the tree's growth. Young roots and newly formed shoots are unable to withstand the cold, and the thuja may simply die.

The safest way to feed a plant in the fall is with peat, wood ash, or compost. This type of fertilizer enriches the soil in which the thuja grows and is also well-received by the tree: it doesn't stimulate the growth of new shoots.

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Steps to prepare thuja for winter

Thuja is considered a frost-hardy conifer. The exceptions are ornamental varieties and recently planted trees that haven't yet had time to harden. For these, you should take the necessary steps to protect them from low temperatures. After properly caring for your thuja in the fall, you need to prepare it for winter.

1. Insulate the soil with mulch. To do this, dig up the soil around the plant's trunk, remove all weeds, and lay down a protective layer. Suitable mulches include compost, manure, dried leaves, and straw. The insulating layer can be 10 to 30 cm thick.
2. Insulate the bushes. To do this, lift the plant's branches upward, pressing them against the trunk and securing them with wire or rope. Place a light-colored bag on top of the bush: photosynthesis occurs year-round, so the plant needs a constant source of sunlight to prevent it from turning yellow. The protective material should not be tightly pressed against the tree. This is necessary to allow for constant air circulation.
3. To cover a young tree, use 5-liter plastic containers. Cut off the bottom of the bottle and place it on top of the conifer.
4. Preventing bark burn is another important step in caring for your thuja and preparing it for winter. To do this, starting on February 15th, install shields near the tree away from the strongest sunlight source.

The insulation is removed immediately after a stable positive temperature is established.

Peculiarities of the regions

Scheme covering thujas for the winter Mulch thickness may vary. This depends on the region where the coniferous bush grows. For example, in the temperate zone, the mulch thickness should be 15 cm. After insulating the soil, all necessary measures are taken to protect the plant's crown.

In the Volga region, winter preparation procedures differ by increasing the mulch thickness by 6 cm. This means the protective soil layer should be 21 cm.

The Urals and Siberia experience heavy snowfalls, which can damage the delicate branches of arborvitaes. To protect the bush, construct a cone-shaped wire frame before covering it with a protective layer. This will prevent heavy snow from settling on the plant.

Mistakes to avoid when caring for your garden in autumn

The following mistakes when preparing a thuja for winter can lead to its damage and death, so you should be aware of them when caring for the tree.

1. When winter comes, do not cover the coniferous tree with protective material.
2. The tree is not protected from active sunlight by shields.
3. Instead of fertilizers for conifers, which is what you should feed your thuja with, use preparations for deciduous trees.
4. Prune during periods of intense sunlight. This causes the needles to turn brown.

Properly caring for this evergreen beauty in the fall is effortless. No special knowledge or skills are required. Simply follow the simple steps outlined above for caring for this coniferous tree in the fall, always covering the crown of the bush and insulating the soil for the winter. Then this coniferous tree will grace your garden, delighting you with its everlasting greenery for many years to come.