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Save a Thuja in 7 Days: Even if it is yellower than a lemon, this method will return the emerald color
23.03.2025 12:42
Does your thuja look like a hero of the apocalypse after winter?
Don't rush to write it off. Even with 90% yellowing, there is a chance of salvation.
We tell you how to revive a plant without magic and expensive drugs.
Why does thuja turn yellow? Just the facts
1. Sunburn. Snow reflects ultraviolet radiation, which burns the needles.
2. Root damping off. Melt water stagnates, causing rotting.
3. Moisture deficiency. In winter, the roots cannot absorb water from the frozen soil.
4. Pests. Larvae of thuja aphids or spider mites overwinter under the bark.
Test: is thuja alive?
1. Bend the branch. If it bends but doesn't break, the plant is alive.
2. Peel off the bark at the base. The green layer underneath is a good sign.
3. Inspect the buds. If they are swollen, the thuja has woken up.
If you pass the test, take action!
Resuscitation method: 7 days until result
Day 1: sanitary pruning.
Remove dry branches with pruning shears. Do not touch green areas.
Treat the cuts with garden pitch.
Important: do not shape the crown until it has fully recovered.
Day 2: washing the needles.
Heat the water to 25–30°C.
Spray the thuja with a hose or watering can, washing away dust and fungi.
Life hack: add 2 tbsp of soap shavings to the water - this will wash away the pest larvae.
Day 3: emergency feeding.
Dissolve in 10 liters of water:
- 20 g ammonium nitrate;
- 10 g magnesium sulfate;
- 5 g iron chelate.
Water the trunk circle (5–7 l per tree).
Day 4: Stress Treatment.
Prepare a solution of Epin (1 ampoule per 5 liters of water).
Spray the needles in the morning or evening.
Why Epin? The stimulator activates the growth of new shoots.
Day 5: Protection from fungus.
Dilute Fundazol (10 g per 10 l of water).
Water the soil and spray the crown.
Day 6: Mulching.
Place around the trunk:
- Peat (5 cm layer);
- The bark of coniferous trees.
Don't: Use sawdust - it acidifies the soil.
Day 7: Control.
Make sure that the water does not stagnate. Loosen the soil.
Shade the thuja with a net if the sun is strong.
What shouldn't you do?
Feed with manure. It will burn the roots.
Pour boiling water over it. The myth of "awakening" will kill the plant.
Cut off more than 30% of the crown. The thuja will not recover.
If the method did not work
Reasons:
- The roots are completely rotten.
- The plant is affected by late blight (brown spots on the trunk).
Solution: dig up the thuja, disinfect the soil with copper sulfate (100 g per 10 l) and plant a new one.
Prevention for the next year
1. Late autumn:
- Insulate the roots with spruce branches.
- Tie the crown with burlap to avoid burning.
2. In February:
Shake snow off branches to prevent them from breaking.
Conclusion
Even a half-dead thuja can come back to life. The main thing is to act quickly and not skip steps.
If new green needles appear after 2 weeks, you have won. No? It means the plant died before your intervention. Don't blame yourself - nature makes mistakes too.
