If you want the garden to look truly decorative, you can not do without a thuja heather (heather). In this article, you will learn how to properly grow and care for Erikoides thuja.

Description

This plant is completely called thuja western heather (Ericoides, Erikoides) or heather-shaped (thuya occidentalis f. Ericoides). The region of origin is North America and eastern Canada. It is one of the youthful forms of western thuja, but their description is distinguished primarily by the structure of the needles, which has the shape of needles.

In addition, the heather thuja is characterized by the fact that:

• the tree has one peak at a younger age and several at an older one;
• the shape of the crown is wide-pyramidal, the crown is thick;
• the presence of shrunken branches and needles;
• grows slowly;
• the needles are flexible, the needles are linear in shape, puff, reach a length of 6-8 mm and a width of 1.5 mm;
• the color of the upper surface of the needles is opaque green, the lower surface is green with a gray tint; in winter it becomes a brownish-pink color, which in spring is again replaced by green;
• the bark is smooth, painted reddish brown;
• the tree grows up to 3 m in height and up to 2 m in width;
• withstands frosts down to –36 ° C, can be grown in the middle lane, it takes at least 100 days a year without frost;
• Needs 890-1400 mm of precipitation per year;
• not toxic to animals or other plants;
• growing slowly.

Did you know? In ancient times, thuja was used in bonfires for sacrifices because of the pleasant smell, and its name, which translates as “incense,” is associated with this.

Juvenile form

Juvenile or youthful form is a period of plant growth, when they have not yet reached adulthood. In this period, their description may differ from the adult form.

So that the plant is in youthful form constantly, it is propagated with the help of cuttings.

Features heather-shaped:

• protruding needles of a needle-like appearance, while in an adult plant it looks like scales firmly pressed to the shoot;
• the color of needles in the cold is slightly pink, and in the warm season it is not as dark as that of the western thuja, which becomes brown in winter;
• the shape of the crown resembles a wide pyramid, in contrast to the ovoid in adulthood;
• the color of the bark brightens with age, initially smooth, it is covered with longitudinal grooves;
• the roots grow compactly, lie in the depths of not less than 75 cm;
• a plant of this form is almost several times smaller than an adult, which can reach 20–38 m in height;
• the number of vertices is 1, less often 2, with age it becomes at least 2.

Important! The heath-shaped thuja is a juvenile form of the western thuja.

Landing rules

For planting Erikoides, it is necessary to choose a non-sunny place or partial shade with non-saline, rich in nitrogen and calcium, not swampy soil, the acidity of which is in the range of 5.2–7 pH. Preferably, the soil structure is fresh, fertile or medium, and the groundwater lies at a level of more than 1.5 m. This species responds well to calcareous soil. 750-3000 plants can be planted per 1 ha.

If planting is carried out from a seedling, then this can be done in the fall or in the spring. The depth of the pit is determined by the size of the earthen coma around the roots, it should be 10 cm deeper. At this value, the bottom is covered with peat mixture, which is abundantly watered with water and left until absorbed. Then the seedling is lowered, the fertile soil is laid out in layers, watering after each of them. The root neck should remain on the surface.

The top layer is watered so that it becomes semi-liquid. This is necessary in order to condense the soil and remove excess air, which prevents the root system from growing. On the perimeter of the trunk circle, it is necessary to form sides to retain moisture.

Planting from seeds is carried out in spring in dug grooves 2 cm deep. For this method, a sunny or highly shaded place is not suitable, select partial shade. It is not necessary to cover the sprouts, however, watering and weeding are required regularly.

Care Features

They look after the heather thuja as well as the western one. Care procedures include:

• watering;
• loosening;
• pruning
• preparation for winter.

Did you know? The healing properties of the plant are used by traditional medicine for patients with various types of skin tumors and colds, and official medicine - for the production of insecticides.

Watering and loosening

The frequency of watering depends on the degree of soil moisture: when it ceases to be so, you need to water. Stagnant moisture is detrimental to the plant as well as its absence. Therefore, you need to water in a hot period when there is no rain for a long time. If the plant is in containers, then watering is carried out daily in the absence of rain.

Trees growing in open ground can not be fertilized. Only those that grow in containers need feeding. To do this, you need to purchase special fertilizers for conifers and sprinkle them on the soil surface in spring. In autumn, it is recommended to put rotted manure in the trunk circle. All weeds must be removed from the trunk circle, and so that they do not grow again, this place is sprinkled with mulch from freshly cut grass or sawdust. This procedure also helps maintain moisture.

Pruning

In the process of trimming heather thuja, you must follow these rules:

• use only clean and sharpened tools: a pruner to remove unnecessary shoots or scissors to give the desired shape;
• remove yellowed branches affected by diseases and pests;
• cut off shoots that protrude beyond the crown;
• the best time for pruning is spring, however, if necessary, pruning can also be done in summer and autumn in the absence of frost and precipitation;
• if you want to cut out a complex shape from a plant - outline its borders with a twine;
• it is not necessary to process the places of cuts.

Proper wintering

If the air temperature in the region is below –36 ° С, you need to cover it. Any material other than lutrasil or film is suitable: straw, spruce branches, agrofibre, burlap. When the temperature matches the plant normal for wintering, the shelter can be removed.

Application in landscape design

The popularity of Tui Erikoides among landscape designers is due to the fact that during the haircut you can give it any shape. It is well suited for the art of topiary, creating hedges, columns, bonsai plants.

To create complex figures of the topiary, it is not necessary to cut the thuja, you can buy a special frame of the desired shape, install it around the seedling, and then cut the shoots that protrude beyond it.

Advantages and disadvantages

• Those who grow heather-shaped thuja in their garden are familiar with its benefits:
• frost resistance;
• unpretentiousness, does not need special care;
• the possibility of growing next to other plants;
• resistance to diseases;
• the ability to use to create complex figures of landscape design;
• the beauty;
• the ability to grow in the absence of sufficient experience in gardening;
• ability to clean air well;
• use in traditional medicine and perfumery;
• affordability.

• The disadvantages of the plant include:
• soil moisture control;
• the need for fertile soil;
• obtaining varietal traits only in plants that are propagated by cuttings;
• requirement for sunlight.

Thuja Erikoides as a juvenile form of western thuja is an excellent choice for those who plan to create both an unusual landscape design and a simple green hedge. If you choose the right place for her, you will need a minimum of care. And in order to preserve its youthful appearance, propagate in time by cuttings.