Gardeners have long been fond of thuja. In our country, most often you can see such plant species as western, eastern or folded. In winter and summer, they are able to decorate any site, and in landscape design this is an indispensable element. The article will focus on the folded thuja Zebrina Extra Gold.

Botanical Description

Folded arborvitae can be in the form of a bush or tree. They are dense crown evergreens. As a rule, a magnificent form is formed due to numerous branches on the shoots. In nature, this species of thuja has rather large parameters, since it can reach a height of 60 m and a width of about 2 m. If we talk about cultivated plants, then in this case their height is much less - no more than 15 m.

You can see folded thuja in the wild near rivers, seas or in the mountains. The crown of ornamental shrubs most often has the shape of a pyramid. The direction of the branches is horizontal. Small and narrow green leaves grow on them (width no more than 1 cm), the reverse side of which is covered with whitish stripes.

Variety of folded thuja Zebrina is one of the most popular types of culture. The needles have a zebra-like color - green with yellow accents. It shimmers beautifully and shines in the sun. Twigs are tight to each other.

The trunk of the plant is painted brown with a red tint - this is why it is often called red cedar. The young plant has a loose structure of branches, with age it becomes more dense.

Did you know? Superstitious people believe that the smell of thuja drives away evil spirits.

It belongs to slow-growing plants: by the age of 10 years, the height does not exceed 1.6 m, the width is 1–1.5 m. Since it is a perennial coniferous tree, after tens of years it can reach a height of 10 m, and the crown diameter will be 3-4 mCones have an oval oblong shape and a length of up to 12 cm.

Landing

If you want to have a large and chic Zebrina Extra Gold on your site, then choose a sunny place for planting. Trees can also grow in the shade, but in this case they will look less beautiful, grow slowly and have a dull color. The soil should be light and dry, peaty or clay.

Did you know? Our ancestors believed that if a thuja grows in the yard of a young girl, then she will not marry.

The landing process has the following algorithm of actions:

1. It is necessary to dig a hole. Its size should be selected according to the dimensions of a coma plant. The optimum depth is 60–80 cm, while it is absolutely necessary to make a drainage layer at its bottom (10–15 cm).
2. Prepare a soil mixture of sand, turf and peat in advance in approximately the same ratio.
3. Carefully place the seedling in the planting pit. Watch your roots; they should not be damaged during planting.
4. The pit must be filled with soil mixture. For better growth, you can add fertilizer - nitroammofox.
5. The round-bore place should be well watered (2 buckets).

Thuja care

Caring for the described plant is simple and does not require much time. But some rules still need to be followed. Below in the article the main nuances of growing folded thuja are considered.

Important! Watering and spraying is best done in the evening, because arborvitae evaporate a lot of water during the day.

Watering and feeding

The shrub loves moisture, so you need to water it regularly - once a week with a bucket of water. In the hot season, you can do this more often, depending on the condition of the soil. Also for the thuja it will be very useful to spray the crown with water. This procedure favorably affects the growth of the plant.

Trees need to be fed in early spring. To do this, you should purchase complex mineral fertilizers in a specialized store.

Loosening and mulching

With the onset of spring, the circle around the trunk must be loosened. The optimum depth is 10 cm, since the culture in question loves light and breathing soil.

The root system of Zebrina Extra Gold is superficial, so the ground near the bush is mulched. To do this, you can use peat, compost, leaves and pieces of bark from trees. The height of the required layer is approximately 7–10 cm. As a result of this procedure, the soil near the thuja will retain moisture, and the number of weeds will be significantly reduced.

Pruning

You don’t have to trim to form a beautiful tree: Zebrina has a great view from nature. The only thing you need to pay attention to is dry and damaged branches. Every year in early spring they must be removed. After that, the tree will have a beautiful and healthy appearance.

Possible diseases and pests

Tui are rarely attacked by pests and diseases. Sometimes you can see a scabbard or aphid on a plant. In recent years, the most common and dangerous insect for this culture is May chafer. Almost all garden plants suffer from it.

Khrushchev begins to hit trees and bushes in mid-April, so at the first sign of its appearance, it is urgent to treat thawed with drugs based on imidacloprid. With a solution, you need to water the soil near the bush, while a small amount should get on the trunk. Also, the root neck is carefully treated with the product.

Important! For preventive purposes, in order to avoid various diseases, the described plant is recommended to be treated with Bordeaux liquid every spring.

The use of wood in landscape design

For landscape designers, the plant in question is a real highlight, because the decorative color of the thuja Zebrina Extra Gold is able to give a special look to any site. Specialists in this industry always recommend planting a tree in prominent places. This is a great option to create a hedge or separate the territory of the alleys. A plant in any composition will look very impressive.

The described type of culture is considered one of the most popular. Many gardeners want to have a tuyu with a perfect conical shape and motley color near their home or cottage. With its appearance, the territory takes on a special look: a tree creates a contrast to all its neighbors in the garden and stands out against their background.