Thuja western Sankist or thuja occidentalis Sunkist, if translated from English, the name of this tree sounds like - "a solar beam." This variety would be bred in the middle of the VIII century by the Swedish botanist and naturalist Karl Linnaeus. Since then, the evergreen has pleased lovers of park areas and alleys with its golden yellow needles.

Grade description

Description of thuja western sankist:

• size - length 2.8–3 m, diameter 1.3–1.5 m;
• crown shape - conical, dense;
• grade - a distinctive feature is the needles of golden or yellow color;
• growth rate - refers to slowly growing trees, grows 10-12 cm in height and 5-6 cm in diameter per year;
• bark - changes color with age, from red or brick to dark brown;
• branches are dense, fit snugly to the tree;
• root - compact surface;
• fruits - round cones up to 1-2 cm, dark brown;
• needles - soft, in the form of scales, dense yellow or golden hue;
• soil - sandy loam, moist loam with a fertile layer, slightly alkaline or acidic;
• insolation - the Sunkist loves the sun, the needles may fade in the shade;
• relation to humidity - the soil should be moist and not overdried.

In landscape design

The Sunkist variety is very popular in landscape design. If it is properly looked after, then thanks to the correct conical shape of the crown, in the end you can get a dense coniferous fence or a separate single figure. If you use these plants as separate sculptures, then they will look best against the backdrop of a scattering of stones.

Did you know? In France the year before last, the thuja was called the "tree of life", it was bred in royal parks and gardens. The needles and bark of this plant, in boiled form, were used in the treatment of pulmonary diseases, stopping bleeding and as a sedative. Perfumers made essential oils from thuja needles.

Western Sankist goes well with conifers and other plant species. With representatives of their group, combined with this variety, should be called - spruce and black or mountain pine.

Experienced designers recommend planting shrubs near playgrounds, gardens or schools. Since the plant releases phytoncides, purifying the air from harmful elements. In addition, thuja is safer for children, its needles are much softer than that of a Christmas tree or pine.

Of deciduous or flowering plants, landscape designers recommend combining thuja with:

• barberry;
• Spirea
• hybrid weigel;
• roses of various shades;
• magnolia;
• decorative apple tree;
• European florizion;
• heather.

Important! When planting occidentalis Sunkist, it is worth remembering that representatives of this variety do not like to "side by side" with larch. Both trees will develop poorly and be ill, being next to each other.

In principle, this plant looks great in combination with any tree or flower, the main thing is that the soil on which they grow is suitable for both species.

Growth conditions

Sunkist grows well on moist, fertile soil, acidic or alkaline. Despite the fact that the plant normally tolerates partial shade, it will feel best of all in the sunny area of ​​the garden. Also, this type of thuja is characterized by frost resistance and wind resistance, it grows well in the city.

For a healthy type of needles, moist soil is important, provided that the soil is dry, it must be constantly watered so that the tree does not get sick. It is not recommended to saturate the ground with top dressing, the plant can begin to quickly stretch upward, losing its decorative appearance.

Landing stages

The landing of Tui Sankist can be divided into several stages:

1. Site selection. The place of planting of seedlings is selected in advance, it should be a sunny corner, protected from drafts for the next few years. Wet soil not prone to drought is selected. Weeds are removed from the site.
2. Training. A hole should be dug with a depth of 0.6–0.8 m; in the presence of groundwater, drainage should be done (10–20 cm of crushed stone).
3. Landing. The seedling from the container must be carefully transferred to the center of the pit without damaging the root system. Then it is covered with a mixture of soil - 2 parts of turf land, 1 part of sand and 1 part of peat.
4. Top dressing and watering. You can add "Nitroammofosku", about 100 g or mineral fertilizer 5 g / l per seedling. The first week after planting, the plant should be watered constantly - a bucket of water every second day.

Care

In caring for thuja, special attention should be paid:

• watering;
• top dressing;
• mulching;
• preparation for the winter period;
• fight against diseases and harmful insects.

If everything is done correctly, the plant will not lose its magnificent crown, it will look fresh and healthy.

Watering and feeding

A newly planted sankisti sapling or a recently transplanted plant should be watered 2-3 times a week, 1 bucket, depending on the state of the soil. Then watering can be reduced to 1 time in 7 days. But if the summer is dry, then it must be increased again.

Important! A tree such as thuja can grow on dry soil, but due to lack of fluid, its crown will quickly thin out and lose its healthy appearance.

They have been feeding this plant since spring. In late March or early April, as soon as the snow melts, the thuja is fertilized with nitrogen additives. Then in June - potash fertilizer. For poor soils, experts recommend phosphate top dressing.

To protect the conifer from pests, before the buds bloom, it is treated with Karbofos or Aktellik. If thuja is affected by a fungal disease, it should be sprayed with a substance containing fungicide (Topsin or Hom).

Weeding, cultivating and mulching

Weeds are carriers of some harmful fungal infections that ripen on them and then infect conifers. Therefore, there should not be any weeds next to the thuja. Soil loosening should be done during the growing season, this should not be done deeply - from 7 to 10 cm.

For mulching thuja, dry bark or sawdust is best suited. The natural material will retain moisture in the soil and provide breathability to the roots of the plant. You can also use peat or compost. The mulch layer should be 10-15 cm.

Shelter for the winter

Thuja occidentalis Sunkist is a hardy plant, but young trees in early spring can get sunburn. This is because the soil has not yet thawed, and the tree is suffering from dehydration by the end of winter. Therefore, it is best to cover thawing for the winter period with agrofibre or some other protective material.

Did you know? Thuja from ancient Greek is translated as “incense”. On holidays in ancient Rome and Greece, they burned the bark of this tree to appease the gods.

It is possible to free a plant from “clothes” after the snow has finally melted. Also, experts recommend tying a tree crown for the winter. This simple maneuver will help maintain the decorative shape of the branches for next year.

Trimming and Shaping

Sunkist pruning can be:

• formative;
• sanitary.

Sanitary cutting of the crown is carried out every spring. Dried and diseased branches are removed from the plant. Forming pruning is necessary if you want to betray a certain figure to the plant, designed for garden design.

But gardeners recommend not cutting more than 1/3 of last year’s growth in one season. Such a step can lead to a weakening and disease of the thuja. After any of the cuttings, the tree must be fed with fertilizer for conifers, for the uniform growth of new branches.

Sankist is one of the classic representatives of the western species of thuja. It is frost-resistant, not capricious and perfect for any of the landscape design compositions conceived by the owner of the garden.