Tuya Miriam is a European novelty that attracts with an interesting crown shape and original color of needles. Its progenitor was the Danish tuika Danika, the mutation of which was noticed and fixed in time by the breeders. The shrub differs from the original variety in a golden hue in spring and bronze in winter.
Thuja western Miriam - ideal for decorating a garden
Brief information about the species
- Colour: golden green - in spring, bronze - in winter.
- Height: up to 0.8 m.
- Crown width: 80 cm.
- In which regions is it growing: in areas from 1 to 4 climatic zones at temperatures down to -33 ° C.
- Landing features: in a sunny place or in partial shade.
- Immunity: tall.
- Life span: 100-150 years old.
General characteristics
Thuja western Miriam is a compact shrub, reaching 0.7-0.8 m in width and height. It grows rather slowly, about 5-7 cm per year. The shape of the crown is spherical, with dense dense branches pointing upwards.
The needles are scaly, shiny, golden-green. By winter, it turns dark orange or bronze.
Growing regions
Tuika is characterized by high winter hardiness. It can be grown in most regions of Russia (from the 1st to the 4th climatic zones at temperatures down to -33 ° C).
In the southern areas, you need to pay attention to regular watering and shade the tree from direct sunlight.
Landing
For planting, it is better to buy a seedling with a closed root system (with an earthen ball or in a container).
A healthy plant is distinguished by elastic leaves and firmly "sitting" needles. The bush should not have dark spots or dry twigs.
Landing place
Globular tuika Miriam loves sunny areas or light partial shade. It grows well in the shade, but the color of the needles becomes less pronounced.
The best soil is moist, fertile loams of medium acidity. In places where rain and melt water accumulates, it is not recommended to plant it.
Landing technology
The landing hole is dug spacious - one and a half to two times the circumference of the container or earthen coma. A drainage layer of sand or expanded clay is placed on the bottom. The soil is mixed with peat or sand in a 2: 1 ratio, nitroammofosk is added.
The plant is placed in the hole, making sure that the root collar remains at ground level. The roots are sprinkled and watered abundantly, and then the earth is also poured and tamped tightly.
Care
Good care will keep your plants healthy
The main measures for caring for thuja include: timely watering, fertilizing, mulching and pruning.
In addition, young seedlings must be prepared for winter: protected from snow, wind and sunburn. Proper care not only promotes tree growth, but also creates good disease prevention.
Watering
Tuika is watered weekly or twice a week, depending on the weather and soil conditions. For watering young seedlings, 4-5 liters of lukewarm settled water are used (for an adult shrub - 2 times more). Sprinkling needles are done in the evenings.
Top dressing
The first feeding is carried out at planting, the second in August. In the future, fertilizers are applied twice per season (in early spring and late summer).
Instead of nitroammophoska, you can use special complexes of minerals for conifers. In addition, the shrub reacts well to the additional introduction of organic matter into the trunk circle (compost or rotted manure).
Mulching and loosening
To improve oxygen access, after watering, the soil of the trunk circle is loosened. Since the root system lies close to the surface, loosening is carried out shallow.
It is better to mulch the soil around the trunk with peat, sawdust or fallen needles.
Pruning
Sanitary pruning is carried out at the end of May - dry, damaged or diseased branches are removed.
Tuika is formed at the same time, thinning branches growing too densely and improving the shape of the ball.
I must say that shaping is not necessary for this variety - the crown itself grows spherically.
Preparing for winter
Usually, a dense ball of Miriam is not afraid of either wind or snow, but young seedlings need protection.
To avoid deformation, the crown is covered with woven materials and tied (or special caps are installed). In addition, the shelter avoids the sunburn that can occur in February.
Reproduction
Thuja Miriam propagates by cuttings. Twigs 10-15 cm long, torn off with an elongated woody section, are suitable as cuttings. This "heel" is immersed in water and then dipped in Kornevin. A substrate is prepared from soil and peat (1: 1) and cuttings are planted in it (you can plant in containers or open ground).
Thuja propagates by cuttings
Rooting requires regular watering and greenhouse conditions. The pots or plants in the garden are covered with plastic bottles for about two months. After rooting, they are transplanted to a permanent place.
Diseases and pests
To avoid fungal infections, do not over-moisten the soil and thicken the plantings. Bordeaux liquid is used for the prevention of fusarium, schute and phytophthora. For treatment - foundazol, topsin, copper oxychloride and other fungicides.
From insect pests, aphids and false shields can affect the culture. At the first sign of an invasion, you can wash the needles with a solution of laundry soap, in serious situations - use insecticides.
In addition, the beetle larvae, which damage the roots, are dangerous. In the fight against them, special drugs are used, like Antichrushch or Aktara.
Landscape design application
Due to its decorative shape and unusual color of the needles, the western tuika Miriam is very popular in landscape design.
It is most often used for Japanese, rocky and heather gardens. The dwarf spherical shrub looks great in contrasting and geometric compositions (in the vicinity of trees of other shapes and sizes).
This tuika is often planted in rockeries, rock gardens and flower beds. The golden color of the needles allows you to create bright accents among green spaces. Container landings with Miriam's participation often decorate building facades, terraces, balconies.
The plant successfully adapts to urban conditions, reviving parks and public gardens. Low hedges and borders of coniferous golden-sunny "balls" of thuja look very nice.
Gardeners reviews
According to the description of those who grow Miriam thuja on their site, it looks great in summer cottages and in gardens, does not require much effort to grow and care.
The crown of the bush practically does not need formation and by itself grows beautiful and rounded.
Many people are impressed by the dwarf size of the thuja - with its help, even a small space can be decorated in an original way.
For safety net, gardeners cover and tie young bushes for the winter, however, according to those who leave them without shelter, the crown does not deform under the snow and remains the same decorative.