Fertilizing tuiis a very important procedure, especially on poor soils and in the first years after planting these popular plants. Systematic supply of nutrients during the growing season has a positive effect on the growth and development of thuja. Learnhow to fertilize tui , how to choosethe best tui fertilizerandwhen to start fertilizing tuito plant correctly began their growing season and quickly regained their vigor after winter.
Tui fertilization
The tui fertilization guidehas been prepared for us by Ms Joanna Białowąs, a graduate of gardening and landscape architecture, who leads the team at the garden center and helps clients to arrange and care for their green spaces.The author of many interesting tutorial articles on gardening and an expert on the gardening forum.
Thuja, colloquially known as thujami , do not have excessive soil requirements. It only needs to be sufficiently moist, as plant growth is inhibited in dry soil.The growing site of tuishould be sunny. This applies in particular to thuja varieties with golden scales. Green varieties, on the other hand, tolerate partial shade.
Thuja respond well to pruning , which is why we choose them so often as a hedge. And numerous varieties of thuja with an interesting shape (conical, spherical, columnar) are eagerly planted in flower beds. In the gardens we can find species such as: Thuja occdentalis, Eastern Thuja (Thuja orientalis) and Thuja plicata. All of them require proper fertilization, which affects their growth, good condition and color of the scales.
Good to know!Not all fertilizers for conifers are good for fertilizing thuja. Thuja have specific nutritional requirements. Therefore, for their fertilization it is worth using special thuja fertilizers enriched with microelements.
Types of tui fertilizers
Thuja fertilization can be carried outusing mineral and organic fertilizers. The first of them are available in the form of sprinkled granulated fertilizers and liquid fertilizers.
Thuja mineral fertilizers , apart from the main minerals - nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, should also contain microelements. They work very quickly and quickly compensate for the deficiency of nutrients.Granulated mineral fertilizersare easy to use and provide thujas with optimal nourishment throughout the growing season.If we have thuja in containers on the balcony or terrace, you can reach for liquid fertilizers, convenient for use with a small number of plants.
Dobreorganic fertilizers for fertilizing tuiare manure and compost. They perfectly complement the deficiencies of minerals, and also improve the structure of the soil in which they grow. It is worth using them at least once a season.
How and when to fertilize thujas?
We start fertilizing thuja in spring , supplying it with half of the annual fertilizer dose. We use the other half of the fertilizer in June. The annual dose is 0.8 - 1 kg per 10 m².Granulated mineral fertilizer for thujaspread evenly within a radius slightly exceeding the outline of the plant's crown. After the treatment, the fertilized area should be watered with plenty of water.
Thuja need specific nutrientsthat are responsible for he althy and lush growth. They are: iron, magnesium, and in autumn mainly potassium and phosphorus. Thujas are sensitive to magnesium deficiency, which is manifested by browning of their needles. To maintain the nice color of the needles or scales,tuje can be fertilized withmagnesium sulfate at a dose of 1.5 kg / 100m².specialist tui fertilizer , containing the necessary macro- and microelements in the right proportions, will bring even better results.
Vila thuja fertilizer enriched with microelements
June isdeadline for fertilizing thuja with nitrogen-rich fertilizers . Subsequent supply of nitrogen fertilizer increases the risk of winter frosting of shoots that will not have time to lignified before winter (nitrogen stimulates them to further growth).
From August, however, we can performautumn fertilization of tui . Less nitrogen and more potassium and phosphorus in autumn fertilizers helps to prepare well for wintering.
The doses of autumn fertilizers for tuidepend on the fertility of the soil and the nutritional requirements of the plants. Usually it is 5-20 g for plants below one meter tall, and 25-40 g for plants taller than 1 m. Autumn fertilization is best used once a season, in August or September.
How to choose the best tuja fertilizer?
To choose thethe best fertilizer for tui , you should be guided by the number of plants you have and the degree of their demand for nutrients.If our plants require intensive fertilization (e.g. we have already noticed the effects of nutrient deficiencies or browning needles and we want to counteract it quickly), we should choose mineral fertilizers. At the same time, remember that too much fertilizer can burn the roots, so do not exceed the doses given on the fertilizer packaging. Organic fertilizers, such as manure or compost, work a bit slower than their mineral counterparts, but are useful wherever the soil is sterile and not humus-rich.
A goodexample of a mineral thuja fertilizeris a specialized Vila thuja fertilizer with microelements, intended for the care of all species of thuja. Properly selected composition andthe addition of microelements in the Thuja Vila fertilizerprovides plants with lush growth and a dense habit. The fertilizer also affects the intense green color of thuja shoots, reducing the risk of browning their tips. Regularuse of thuja fertilizer with microelementsincreases plant resistance to diseases and unfavorable climatic conditions.
Forautumn fertilization of thujathere are no specialized fertilizers on the market intended exclusively for thuja. Therefore, here you can choose universal autumn fertilizer or autumn fertilizer for conifers. A good example of this type of fertilizer is Vila nitrogen-free autumn fertilizer for conifers. It is a phosphorus-potassium fertilizer enriched with sulfur.
MSc Eng. Joanna Białowąs
