Thuja and cypress are quite actively used in landscape design. They perfectly complement the garden plot and are often used to create hedges and various compositions. However, you should not locate such trees nearby, since the requirements for their cultivation vary significantly. Before planting a specific crop, you need to familiarize yourself with the differences between thuja and cypress.
Description of thuja
Thuja is an evergreen coniferous crop that is very popular all over the world. It is also called the “tree of life.”The plant is grown in gardens and parks as an ornamental. Today there are many varieties of thuja known. They can be dwarf, not exceeding 30 centimeters, or huge, more than 70 meters high.
Many gardeners grow thujas because they are distinguished by their excellent decorative properties, ease of care and resistance to frost. The genus of such plants belongs to the gymnosperm coniferous crops from the Cypress family. The height and growth rate of trees depend on the species. But in most cases, thujas are characterized by slow development.
Young trees have delicate needles that have soft needles. As the culture develops, the needles become scaly and crosswise opposite, and also acquire different shades. The needles are pressed tightly against the shoots. Old branches turn yellow and fall off.
Description of cypress
The cypress genus includes several dozen varieties of evergreen gymnosperm shrubs or trees. They are heat-loving crops that are widespread in the tropical and subtropical climates of the northern hemisphere. These conifers belong to relict species that have existed since the Tertiary period.
Under natural conditions, cypress trees reach 35-40 meters. The height of hybrid and garden varieties is 2-10 meters. There are also dwarf varieties that grow indoors.
These trees have narrow and small needles, which are distinguished by their bright or dark green color and needle-like shape. It fits tightly to the branches.The foliage includes many essential oils and phytoncides. These components repel pests.
Cypress trees are a monoecious plant. This means that the tree grows both male and female cones. They are small in size and ovoid or almost spherical in shape. A characteristic feature of the cones is the presence of lignified scales that adhere tightly to the surface. The seeds are slightly flattened and have light wings.
The top of cypress trees is covered with red-brown or olive-gray bark. With age, it peels off in the form of thin plates. Numerous shoots form a dense and spreading crown. They can grow in different directions. Thanks to this, trees resemble columns, pyramids or bowling pins.
Main differences
Thuja differs from cypress in a number of ways. This applies to the size, appearance of the needles, and the shape of the cones. There are also features in caring for plants.
In sizes
Before planting such plants on the site, it is important to familiarize yourself with their sizes. The height of the trees depends on the variety. At the same time, thuja can reach 70 meters. The height of cypress in natural conditions is 35-40 meters.
Differences in needles
Thuja is characterized by crossed needles, which become denser and stiffer with age. Cypress leaves have different leaf structures depending on age. In young trees, the needles have a needle-like structure. Subsequently, it becomes scaly and lies closer to the branches.
Another distinctive feature is the placement of needles on the branches. In thuja they are located in the same plane, while in cypress they are located in different planes. There is also a difference in the smell of the needles. Thuja has a distinct ethereal aroma. Cypress doesn't smell as bright. Its aroma has smoky and sweetish tones.
In wood
Thuja is characterized by a red-brown, durable bark that contains a little resin. Cypress is a less dense wood that contains a lot of tree resin.
By area and life time
The plants in question are considered related. However, the difference between them lies in their attitude to climate. Thuja prefers cool weather. Therefore, it is mainly planted in the middle zone. Cypress is more suitable for subtropics.
If you pay attention to the natural distribution area of the thuja, it should be noted that this species is predominantly found in southeastern Canada and the northern United States. In addition, the trees grow in the west of Anticosti Island. In addition, thuja can be seen in Minnesota and New York. Cypress grows in Crimea, China, and America. It is also found in the Caucasus.
The plants in question have significant differences in life expectancy. Thuja lives no more than 200 years. The lifespan of cypress can reach 2000 years.
In fruits
Thuja and cypress differ in the appearance of the fruit. Thuja is characterized by elongated cones with several pairs of scales, which are arranged crosswise. Cypress has spherical cones.
In the peculiarities of cultivation
Before planting thuja, you should properly prepare the soil. After this, you can proceed to the selection of planting material. You can plant fairly mature plants in open soil. They must be at least 2 years old. The younger the culture, the more difficult it is to take root.
When choosing a seedling, you should pay attention to the shoots. It is important that they are strong and flexible. The color of the needles is of no small importance. It should not be yellow or dry. It is also important to ensure that the young plant is healthy.There should be no traces of pest activity or signs of disease.
Before planting, the tree needs to be watered. After which it is recommended to remove it from the container with the lump of soil. This will help protect the root system from damage and supply the young crop with all the valuable substances in its new location. Before planting bare-rooted plants, they can be immersed in a container of water. This will help clear them of soil.
It is necessary to plant thuja in the spring - in April-May. You should not plant such plants in the fall, since the crop will not have time to adapt to the new location before winter arrives. When planting, you should adhere to the following scheme:
- Make planting recesses 40 centimeters wide and 30 centimeters deep.
- Place drainage at the bottom. It may consist of stones or gravel. The size of this layer should be 20 centimeters.
- Add fertilizer. To do this, you need to mix humus, compost and wood ash in equal proportions.
- Place a seedling with a lump of soil in the hole. If the plant has an open root system, you need to make a hill at the bottom of the hole, place the tree on it and distribute the roots.
- Sprinkle the plant with substrate. It needs to be fed in advance with sand, peat and humus.
- Compact the soil a little and pour 1-2 buckets of water under the tree.
- To retain moisture in the soil, cover its surface with mulch. It is permissible to use sawdust for this. It is important to consider that the mulch should not touch the trunk or lower shoots. Otherwise, there is a risk that the tree will begin to rot.
After planting a crop, it needs to be provided with quality care. It should include the following activities:
- Soil moistening.In spring, it is enough to water the plants every 7 days. For 1 tree you need to use 1 bucket of water. During periods of precipitation, spraying should be stopped. In summer, thuja needs more watering. For 1 tree you need to use 15-20 liters of water. It is necessary to moisten the soil several times a week. An adult crop can be watered less often. However, the volume of water should be doubled. It is useful to spray the crown periodically. This helps clean it from dust, give it a rich color and enhance the aroma.
- Fertilizer application. Young thuja does not need to be fed. Then you need to fertilize every spring. An adult tree should be fed with a composition based on potassium and phosphorus. For 1 square meter you need to use 50 grams of fertilizer. It is recommended to apply them at intervals of 15 days. As for mineral preparations, you can use Fertika. In summer, the solution is added to water and used for irrigation.
- Pruning and weeding. In spring, trees need to be pruned to maintain their decorative appearance and stimulate the development of shoots. Weeding helps get rid of weeds and improve moisture absorption.
When planting cypress, you also need to prepare a suitable substrate. To make it, you need to mix the soil with pine humus in equal parts. It is recommended to carry out planting work in the spring. This is best done between April and May.
The cypress tree needs to be placed in a planting hole with a lump of soil to protect the roots from damage. The size of the hole must completely accommodate the roots. Usually you need to make a hole 80 centimeters deep and 100 centimeters wide.
It is recommended to place a drainage layer of stones at the bottom. Its thickness should be 20-30 centimeters.After which the seedling must be placed in the hole and covered with substrate.
It is important to place the root collar near the surface of the ground - about 30 centimeters. Otherwise, there is a high probability of crop death. After planting, the soil should be lightly compacted and wooden supports placed.
The planting area must be watered with 2 buckets of water and covered with a mulch layer. To do this, it is permissible to use different materials - bark, foliage, wood chips, husks. Further care involves watering and fertilizing. Plants also need to be pruned periodically.
Cypress trees are considered very moisture-loving plants. Therefore, the soil must be systematically moistened. In spring and autumn, the plant needs to be watered every week. Each tree needs 10 liters of water. In summer, cypress needs to be moistened more often - 3-4 times a week. In this case, it is recommended to double the volume of water. In winter, there is no need to moisten the soil.
What to choose for decoration
You can decorate the area with any coniferous plant. In this case, you need to focus on individual preferences and climatic conditions. Thuja develops better in cool climates, and cypress - in temperate ones.
Arborvitae go well with flowering crops. It is recommended to plant cypress trees in groups, placing them along paths. They can also be placed one at a time.
Cypresses and thujas are fairly common coniferous crops that have excellent decorative characteristics. In order for these plants to grow and develop normally, they require proper care.
