Gardening guide: Prepping your thuja for a frost-ready winter

Thujas, also known as arborvitae, is a popular choice among gardeners. Their evergreen leaves add elegance to gardens all year round. However, preparing thuja for winter is a key step for these plants to develop properly in the spring.

Winter doesn't mean completely abandoning thuja care. Despite the low temperatures, these plants still need appropriate watering. Thuja should be watered until the first frosts appear. Even though the temperature drops, the soil around thuja shouldn't be allowed to dry out. Watering thuja before winter enables water to be stored, which the plants will use during the long, frosty months.

It's worth monitoring soil moisture and watering if necessary, even in winter during thaws, which can significantly help prevent the so-called physiological drought. This can be particularly dangerous for evergreen shrubs like thuja.

What's the next step after thoroughly watering thuja at the end of November? Mulching. This method effectively protects the soil and plants from frost and moisture loss, providing them with optimal conditions to survive the cold months.

A "carpet" of natural mulch also helps prevent the growth of weeds that can compete with thujas for nutrients. It's crucial to clean the area of weeds and fallen leaves beforehand.

A layer of mulch several centimetres thick should be evenly spread around the thuja, maintaining a distance of about 10 centimetres from the trunk to prevent rotting. It's recommended to do this before the first frosts arrive, while the ground is not yet completely frozen.

Covering thuja for winter is a crucial step to ensure protection from extreme weather conditions. Using horticultural fleece or special straw mat covers can create an effective protective barrier against cold winds and sudden temperature drops. These covers should be installed when the first frosts occur, so the plant can still benefit from natural light and warmth.