Thuja western Columna (Thuja occidentalis Columna) - This coniferous evergreen plant, genus Tui, family Cypress. In nature, it grows in eastern North America. And in ornamental gardening - on all continents. It is found on the territory of both private sites and public parks and squares, used for group and single plantings.
We will dedicate the following article to this remarkable representative of flora and agricultural technology of its cultivation.
- Thuja western Columna: characteristics and features
- Choosing a place for landing
- All the details of planting thuja Columna
- Features of care for Tummy Columna
- Watering, loosening and mulching the soil
- Fertilization
- Cropping and crown formation
- Shelters of young plants for the winter
- Pest and disease control
Thuja western Columna: characteristics and features
Thuja Columna is a special variety of this plant, its frost resistance and resistance to sunburn are important in the description. It has a narrow, kolonovidnuyu form, short, horizontally diverging branches.It belongs to long-livers, can live to 200 years of age. Usually it grows up to 8 m, but there are also specimens in 10 m height (it is the only variety of columnar tui that can grow above 8 m). 
It grows rather slowly. Young trees add 15 cm height each year. As for the diameter of the crown of the Tummy Columna, then it grows to a maximum of 1.5 m, adding 5 cm in volume annually. The bark is red-brown, brick, not smooth. The needles themselves scale-like, dark green, thick, shiny. The root system consists of thin and dense processes with mycorrhiza. Cones are brown, round, seeds are flat.
Choosing a place for landing
When planting, give preference to an open solar area or partial shade. In a very shaded place with too dry soil the plant will wither. Since the thuja Columna has a rather large height and volume, it should be planted at a distance of at least 3 m from other crops so as not to obscure them.
To the soil the plant is not demanding, will grow on acid and alkaline. But it is important that the substrate has a high permeability and is fertile. With loamy soil and close groundwater, it is necessary to make a drainage of 15-20 cm.It is desirable that the landing site was protected from the winds to prevent drying and dehydration, including in cold weather. 
All the details of planting thuja Columna
When planting the Columna thuja, the distance between the trees should be 3-5 m. The size of the planting pits depends on the size of the seedling (height and width of its crown) and its planting soil.
Prepare a mixture of sod land, peat and sand in a 2: 1: 1 ratio. Add 0.5 kg of mineral fertilizers to each pit. When digging in, place the root collar of the seedling at ground level.
Features of care for Tummy Columna
Like any other plant, such a thuja needs proper care. And although this tree is not distinguished by special whims, but with the observance of some agrotechnical rules its decorative effect, as well as resistance to diseases and pests will be higher.
Watering, loosening and mulching the soil
In the first month after planting, the Columna must be watered once a week with 10 liters of water, and during the dry period this rate (both the volume and frequency of irrigation) should be doubled.
Fertilization
After planting with fertilization, the plant does not need feed during the year. Next should be fed in the early spring period with complex fertilizer (100 g per sq. M).
Cropping and crown formation
Thuja Columna needs a regular haircut and tolerates it well. Sanitary pruning of dry, damaged or diseased shoots is carried out every spring. Decorative pruning is not subject to strict time limits, but it is desirable to implement it in the spring or late summer. 
Shelters of young plants for the winter
Mature trees are frost resistant. But in the first year of hibernation of a young thuja, in order to protect the plant not only from frost, but also winter-spring sunburn, it must be covered with spruce, kraft paper or a special white synthetic nonwoven protective material.
Pest and disease control
Thuja Columna can be attacked by thug aphids and false guards.
Tuevaya aphid - It is a gray-brown insect that settles in colonies on the underside of the shoots. It hurts the needles, it begins to turn yellow and fall off. To get rid of the pest, treat the plant with "Malophores", if necessary, the procedure should be repeated. 
Tuevaya pseudo shield able to cause great harm to the thuja. To fight, before the buds bloom, in the summer, during the period of mass exits of strollers, spray the tree with Karbofos and Aktellik.
Among the diseases found drying of shootscaused by fungus. In early spring, on some shoots, the scales turn yellow, then the shoots themselves turn brown and fall off.Patients shoots should be removed and 2 times a month (July-October) spray the crown with a solution of "Fundazol" (0.2%). 
As you could see, the thuja western Columna is a beautiful, universal ornamental plant, in which it is not difficult to plant and care. Using such a tree in landscape design, you will get a lot of positive impressions, starting with a great appearance and ending with a pleasant aroma.
