How to plant thuja in autumn and when is the best time?

Trees

With the arrival of autumn comes a favorable time for planting, including thuja. Planting thuja in the fall is more favorable than in summer or spring, making it a popular choice among gardeners. Experienced growers offer recommendations and advice on the planting process, its specifics, and a step-by-step guide.

About the benefits of autumn planting

In the fall, after the harvest, you have free time, so you can choose a tree seedling, fertilize the soil, and begin planting. You decided to plant your thuja in the fall, and you made the right decision because:

the soil has already been saturated with moisture and nutrients since summer;
seedlings can be purchased at a significant discount;
there is no need to buy special mulch, use a pile of autumn leaves or mown grass;
there is no strong sun and heat;
minimal risk of contracting diseases;
After wintering, the thuja's immune capacity will be strengthened.

Despite the advantages, there are still risks. One possibility is that you planted your thuja at the wrong time in the fall. For example, if you planted it during a frost and didn't properly insulate the soil, the weak root system won't survive the frost, and the tree will die.

Attention!

Plant thuja no later than November, preferably from mid-October until the end of the month.

Features of planting thuja in autumn

Thuja is considered a low-maintenance plant and thrives when all the necessary growing conditions are met. Take a little time to learn the nuances before planting, and you'll enjoy a lush, green crown year-round:

If you've chosen a bare-root seedling, you should plant it between late August and October. Planting times vary depending on the plant type. Container-grown seedlings can be planted until early November; they are more resistant to cold snaps.
When planting in autumn, it is not advisable to fertilize;
It is essential to use mulch to insulate the root system;
planting must be done before the first snow;
After planting, the tree must be protected from sunlight and the crown from frost.

Before planting, select a high-quality seedling with a good root system and determine the location where the tree will grow. The future life of the plant, its health, and its appearance depend on the correct execution of these simple tasks.

Choosing a landing site

Thuja doesn't like direct sunlight, so choose a spot with low or diffused light. It's best to choose a site protected from north-facing winds, as a small tree can bend or break from constant drafts. In the shade of large trees, the plant will grow slowly, so it's best to plant it some distance from taller trees. The groundwater level in the planting area may be low. Thuja thrives in moist soil, so this is a good option.

Choosing a seedling

To buy a good tree seedling, go to a nursery. Choose planting material at a market or gardening fair, but be extremely careful. A healthy seedling should be:

with whole, good shoots;
with a branched root system;
with a slightly damp lump of earth.

Carefully inspect the tree's needles. They should be green and dense. A healthy plant's needles should be tightly packed, almost to the center of the trunk, with no bare spots. If you're buying a potted plant, turn the pot upside down. Excessively large roots protruding from the drainage holes are a sure sign that the tree is overgrown. Also, when buying a potted plant, make sure the soil completely covers the root system. There shouldn't be any aerial roots.

Note!

The color of the tree's needles varies depending on the variety. The most common varieties are: Smaragd, Columna, Rosenthal, Brabant, and Holmstrup.

The landing process

You've bought a seedling and brought it to your dacha, chosen a location, and now you can begin planting. First, you need to prepare a hole, add drainage, and then improve the soil's fertility. If the soil is already fertile and contains plenty of organic matter and minerals, there's no need to fertilize it. A detailed explanation of how to plant thuja in the fall, including the procedure and step-by-step instructions, is provided below.

Preparing the pit

Before digging the hole, examine the root system of the seedlings. Using a tape measure or simply by eye, estimate the approximate root length and double it. This measurement is the depth of the planting hole. It's best to plant thujas at a depth of 50-70 cm, no more. The hole diameter should be no more than 1 m.

When planting several trees in a plot, maintain a distance of at least half a meter between them. Planting too closely together will result in overcrowding, the root system will not receive sufficient nutrition, and the tree will eventually become diseased. For arborvitaes, it's best to choose a staggered planting pattern; this is convenient for both the plants and their maintenance.

Drainage

To prevent the soil where the tree grows from becoming overly waterlogged, a drainage layer should be laid before planting. This will absorb excess moisture and, if the groundwater level is low, will protect the thuja from rotting in the soil. The following are most commonly used for drainage:

expanded clay;
small crushed stone;
crushed brick.

Clay soils especially need drainage. The solid material should be crushed into crumbs or small pieces before being poured into the hole. Then, a drainage layer of approximately 15-20 cm is placed in the hole. This depth is quite sufficient for growing arborvitaes.

Fill with substrate

The more fertile the soil, the better the plant will look. When digging the hole, divide the soil into two layers: a bottom layer and a top layer. The top layer is considered more valuable because it contains nutrients. The soil for thuja should consist of:

a mixture of peat, river sand, and soil in a ratio of 1:1:2;
a mixture of leaf soil, sand, peat, and humus in a ratio of 2:2:1:3;
a mixture of turf soil, sand and humus in a ratio of 3:1:2.

Fill the hole about halfway with nutritious potting soil, then remove the seedling from the container and cover it with the remaining soil, along with the root ball. The root collar of the plant should be exposed, not covered with soil. However, if it is raised too high, the young thuja may begin to dry out. The ideal position is for the root collar to be level with the soil surface.

Note!

The root collar is easy to identify: find the place on the seedling's trunk where the color changes from brown to green.

Aftercare

Immediately after planting, water the plant to compact the soil and eliminate air pockets. For rapid rooting, use root supplements such as Kornevin, Zircon, or Epin. Mulch the area around the tree trunk with a peat mixture and cover with spruce branches. Wood chips, compost, or shredded bark can be used as mulch. Mulch will facilitate the plant's establishment in its new location, protect it from frost, and retain soil moisture. The mulch layer should not exceed 7-10 cm in thickness.

Fertilizers for conifers

Young gardeners wonder if it's possible to fertilize a tree immediately after planting. The answer is no. Root feeding should only be done every 2-3 years. If the soil is poor, then fertilizing should be done annually. If mineral fertilizers were added at planting, fertilizing should not be done for another 2 years, as the soil is still sufficiently fertilized.

The best time to apply fertilizer is spring and fall. In spring, it's best to apply organic matter, but only with a minimum nitrogen content, as the tree doesn't respond well to it. Humus and compost are good fertilizers for the plant. In late summer and fall, it's preferable to use potassium- and phosphorus-based fertilizers: superphosphate, potassium sulfate, or any other potassium salts.

Attention!

Foliar feeding of the crop is not carried out, as it can damage the crown.

How to cover for the winter

Before wintering, be sure to cover the young tree. Its root system is still weak, so frosts can be devastating. Mulch the soil with peat and wrap the tree in a light, breathable material. Never use black fabric or film for covering. Photosynthesis continues year-round, without interruption, so the arborvita needs light. Choose any of the following covering materials:

sackcloth;
gauze;
spunbond;
agrospan;
craft;
lutrastil.

When snow falls, remove it from the branches to prevent them from sagging. Covering the thuja is necessary when winter temperatures in the region don't rise above -15°C (-15°F), and frosts of -30°C (-30°F) occur regularly. For central and southern Russia cover the tree for the winter It's only necessary until the plant reaches 3-4 years of age. The plant survives the winter without any problems after that.

Types of landing errors

Inexperienced gardeners sometimes make mistakes, and their incorrect actions have tragic consequences. To properly plant thuja in the fall, pay attention to the most common mistakes:

The root ball has been damaged, meaning there's a risk of damaging the root system. When removing the plant from its container, wrap the ball in cheesecloth to prevent soil from spilling out.
Incorrect planting hole size. A hole that's too small, just like one that's too large, will cause slow plant growth. This can be corrected by simply replanting the plant in a new hole of the correct size.
Violations in the planting technology itself: deepening of the root collar, lack of drainage negatively affect the growth of thuja;
Over-wintering. If the winter is mild and you've wrapped the plant in 2-3 layers of burlap, it's likely to overheat.

Tips for gardeners

If you've never grown this plant before, choose the variety that best suits your region's climate. Western thuja is a good choice for novice gardeners, as it's easy to care for and adapts to any climate. Follow a few simple, practical tips; they'll help with growing and care:

For watering, use cool, slightly hard water. You can filter the water or let it settle. The recommended watering rate for one tree is 10 liters;
In the summer heat, to keep the crown cool, water it with a hose. Be sure to adjust the water pressure; it shouldn't be too strong.
When pruning, remove approximately 1/3 of the total number of shoots. The tools (pruning shears, knife) must be clean. You can treat them with potassium permanganate for disinfection;
If dead shoots or darkened needles appear, remove the damaged areas immediately. Failure to promptly remove already damaged areas increases the risk of pathogenic microorganisms developing and creates a favorable environment for insects.

Attention!

To shape the tree's crown, you can purchase special metal frames. These are sold in garden supply stores.

Planting a thuja will add a noticeable greenery to your garden. The tree complements cypresses, hydrangeas, acacias, and astilbes. If you plant several, you can eventually create a beautiful hedge. A healthy thuja is an ideal design solution, as it can be shaped to suit any design idea.