Thuja and cypress: differences between trees and what is the difference between them, comparison

Thuja and cypress are quite actively used in landscape design. They perfectly complement the backyard and are often used to create hedges and various compositions. However, such trees should not be located nearby, since the requirements for their cultivation vary significantly. Before planting a particular crop, you need to familiarize yourself with the differences between thuja and cypress.

Description of thuja

Thuja is an evergreen coniferous culture 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, many varieties of thuja are known. They can be dwarf, which do not exceed 30 centimeters, or huge - more than 70 meters high.

Thuja is grown by many gardeners, as they are distinguished by excellent decorative properties, ease of care and resistance to frost. The genus of such plants belongs to the gymnosperms of coniferous crops from the Cypress family. The height and growth rates of trees depend on the species. But in most cases, thuja 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 various shades. The needles are pressed tightly against the shoots. Old branches turn yellow and fall off.

Thuja is characterized by female and male flowers. Only the shape and color differ. Flowering occurs in April. This period lasts only a few days. Then cones appear on the branches.

Description of cypress

The genus of cypresses includes several dozen varieties of evergreen gymnosperms or trees. They are heat-loving crops that are widespread in the tropical and subtropical climate of the northern hemisphere. These conifers are relic species that have existed since the Tertiary period.

In natural conditions, cypresses 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 bright or dark green in color and needle-shaped. It adheres tightly to the branches. The foliage includes a lot of essential oils and phytoncides. These components repel pests.

Cypresses are a monoecious plant.This means that both male and female cones grow on the tree. 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 fit snugly to the surface. The seeds are slightly flattened and lightly winged.

Cypresses are covered with red-brown or olive-gray bark from above. With age, it exfoliates in the form of thin plates. Numerous shoots form a dense and spreading crown. They can grow in different directions. This makes the trees look like 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, 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 size. The height of the trees depends on the variety. In this case, the thuja can reach 70 meters. The height of the cypress in natural conditions is 35-40 meters.

Differences in needles

Thuja is characterized by crossed needles, which become denser and stiffer with age. In cypress, the structure of the leaves has differences - it depends on age. In young trees, the needles have a needle-like structure. Subsequently, it becomes scaly and adheres closer to the branches.

Another distinguishing feature is the placement of needles on the branches. In thuja, they are located in the same plane, and in cypress, in different ones. There is also a difference in the smell of the needles. Thuja has a pronounced ethereal aroma. Cypress smells not so bright. It smells smoky and sweetish.

In wood

Thuja is characterized by a red-brown strong bark, in which there is a little resin. Cypress has a less dense wood that includes a lot of tree resin.

According to range and lifetime

The plants in question are considered related. However, the difference between them is in relation to the climate. Thuja prefers coolness. Therefore, it is mainly planted in the middle lane. Cypress is more suitable for subtropics.

If you pay attention to the natural range of arborvitae, it should be noted that this species is mainly found in southeastern Canada and the northern United States. In addition, trees grow in the west of the island of Anticosti. In addition, thuja can be seen in Minnesota and New York. Cypress grows in the Crimea, in China, America. It is also found in the Caucasus.

The considered plants have significant differences in life expectancy. Thuja lives no more than 200 years. The lifespan of a 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 located crosswise. Cypress has globular buds.

Growing Features

Before planting arborvitae, it is worth properly preparing the soil. After that, you can proceed to the choice of planting material. Quite mature plants can be planted 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. Of no small importance is the color of the needles. It should not be yellow or dry. It is also important to ensure that the young plant is he althy. It should be free of pest activity or signs of disease.

Before planting, the tree needs to be watered. After that, it is recommended to pull it out of the container with a lump of soil. This will help protect the root system from damage and provide the young culture with all the valuable substances in the new place. Before planting plants with open roots, they can be immersed in a container of water.This will help clear them of soil.

Planting thuja is required in the spring - in April-May. You should not plant such plants in the fall, because the culture will not have time to adapt to a new place before the arrival of winter. When landing, you should adhere to the following scheme:

1. Make planting holes 40 centimeters wide and 30 centimeters deep.
2. Place drainage on the bottom. It may consist of stones or gravel. The size of this layer should be 20 centimeters.
3. Apply fertilizer. To do this, mix humus, compost and wood ash in equal proportions.
4. Install a seedling with a clod of soil in the recess. If the plant has an open root system, you need to make a hill at the bottom of the hole, put a tree on it and distribute the roots.
5. Sprinkle the plant with the substrate. It needs to be fed in advance with sand, peat and humus.
6. Tamp the soil a little and pour 1-2 buckets of water under the tree.
7. To keep moisture in the soil, cover its surface with mulch. For this, it is permissible to use sawdust. 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 start to rot.

After planting, a crop needs quality care. It should include the following activities:

1. Soil moistening. In spring, it is enough to water the plants every 7 days. On 1 tree, you need to use 1 bucket of water. During rainy season, spraying should be stopped. In the summer, thuja needs more watering. For 1 tree you need to use 15-20 liters of water. It is required to moisten the soil several times a week. Adult culture can be watered less frequently. However, the volume of water should be doubled. It is useful to periodically spray the crown. This helps to clean it of dust, give a rich color and enhance the aroma.
2. Fertilization. Young thuja can not be fed. Then fertilization is necessary 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. They are recommended to be applied at intervals of 15 days. From mineral preparations, you can use Fertika. In the summer, the solution is added to water and used for irrigation.
3. Pruning and weeding. In the spring, trees should be pruned to maintain their decorative appearance and encourage shoot development. Weeding helps to get rid of weeds and improve moisture absorption.

When planting cypress, you also need to prepare a suitable substrate. For its manufacture, it is required to mix the earth with coniferous humus in equal parts. Planting work is recommended in the spring. This is best done between April and May.

Cypress should be placed in a planting hole with a clod of soil to protect the roots from damage. The size of the hole should completely accommodate the roots. It usually requires a hole 80 centimeters deep and 100 centimeters wide.

It is recommended to put a drainage layer of stones at the bottom. Its thickness should be 20-30 centimeters. After that, the seedling must be placed in the hole and crushed with a substrate.

It is important to place the root neck near the surface of the earth - about 30 centimeters. Otherwise, there is a high probability of death of the culture. After planting, the soil should be lightly tamped and wooden supports placed.

The seat must be watered with 2 buckets of water and covered with a mulch layer. For this, it is permissible to use different materials - bark, foliage, chips, husks. Further care involves watering and applying top dressing. Plants also need to be pruned periodically.

Cypresses are considered very moisture-loving plants. Therefore, the soil must be systematically moistened. In spring and autumn, watering the plant is required every week. Moreover, each tree needs 10 liters of water.In summer, you need to moisten cypress more often - 3-4 times a week. In this case, the volume of water is recommended to be doubled. In winter, it is not necessary to moisten the soil.

What to prefer for decoration

You can decorate the site with any coniferous plant. In this case, you need to focus on individual preferences and climatic conditions. Thuja develops better in a cool climate, and cypress in a temperate one.

Thuja go well with flowering crops. At the same time, it is recommended to plant cypresses in groups, placing them along the paths. They can also be placed one at a time.

Cypresses and arborvitae are fairly common coniferous crops that have excellent decorative characteristics. In order for these plants to grow and develop normally, they need proper care.

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