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#1
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Thuja Plicata
In the June 2003 edition of Gardeners world magazine, Alan's top hedges, Mr
Titchmarsh suggests the Thuja Plicata as "the hedge we would all love". However, Mr Titchmarsh does not tell us the variety of this tree, and as there are many different varieties of this kind, I would be most grateful if anyone could tell me the variety he is talking about. We are currently deciding what to plant for our new hedge in our back garden, and this hedge seems to be most suitable for our needs. The hedge is described as: An evergreen that grows to 1.2 - 1.5m (4-5ft) which then stops. It just needs a few light clips a year and won't go beserk! We need this hedge as some sort of privacy screening from the neighbourts, and do not want the hedge to be too high (its difficult to trim!) and something that is not intrusive on the neighbours and surrounding area. After some initial research, we found that some varieties included: Pumila, whipcord, aurea and rogersii. However, we are still not sure of which type Mr Titchmarsh suggests. If anyone has a more clear idea of what to suggest, then we would be most grateful. Thanks, Ann and Martin Newman |
#2
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Thuja Plicata
On Fri, 11 Jul 2003 12:18:21 +0100, "Martin Newman"
wrote: In the June 2003 edition of Gardeners world magazine, Alan's top hedges, Mr Titchmarsh suggests the Thuja Plicata as "the hedge we would all love". However, Mr Titchmarsh does not tell us the variety of this tree, and as there are many different varieties of this kind, I would be most grateful if anyone could tell me the variety he is talking about. We are currently deciding what to plant for our new hedge in our back garden, and this hedge seems to be most suitable for our needs. The hedge is described as: An evergreen that grows to 1.2 - 1.5m (4-5ft) which then stops. It just needs a few light clips a year and won't go beserk! We need this hedge as some sort of privacy screening from the neighbourts, and do not want the hedge to be too high (its difficult to trim!) and something that is not intrusive on the neighbours and surrounding area. After some initial research, we found that some varieties included: Pumila, whipcord, aurea and rogersii. However, we are still not sure of which type Mr Titchmarsh suggests. If anyone has a more clear idea of what to suggest, then we would be most grateful. I haven't seen the article, but according to Adrian Bloom's book on garden conifers, there's Thuja plicata, i.e. the original Western Red Cedar species, with no varietal name appended, and then there are all the varieties e.g. Thuja plicata rogersii. Bloom actually recommends T.p. atrovirens for hedging as being more consistent in form and colour than the species itself. But if you can't get it, just go for the true species, Thuja plicata. I'm surprised to see that AT says it grows to 1.2 - 1.5m and then stops, as you quote. Bloom says it's a fast growing pyramidal tree, reaching 5 - 7m after 10 years, ultimately reaching 30 - 60m. The RHS encyclo. gives it's ultimate height as 20 - 35m, and also recommends T.p. atrovirens for hedging. Most of the other named varieties are 'shrubs', i.e. grown as single specimens for their shape, form or colour. I doubt that conifers actually stop growing, but just get very slow when they reach their mature height. Conifers that have a low mature height such as you're seeking are usually slow growing. If someone discovered what you describe, they'd make a fortune! It's every gardener's dream. Thuja plicata has been around in the UK for about 150 years and while I'm sure it makes an excellent hedge, if it did what AT describes, no-one would ever grow anything else. -- Chris E-mail: christopher[dot]hogg[at]virgin[dot]net |
#3
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Thuja Plicata
The message
from Chris Hogg contains these words: On Fri, 11 Jul 2003 12:18:21 +0100, "Martin Newman" wrote: In the June 2003 edition of Gardeners world magazine, Alan's top hedges, Mr Titchmarsh suggests the Thuja Plicata as "the hedge we would all love". However, Mr Titchmarsh does not tell us the variety of this tree, and as there are many different varieties of this kind, I would be most grateful if anyone could tell me the variety he is talking about. We are currently deciding what to plant for our new hedge in our back garden, and this hedge seems to be most suitable for our needs. The hedge is described as: An evergreen that grows to 1.2 - 1.5m (4-5ft) which then stops. It just needs a few light clips a year and won't go beserk! Bloom actually recommends T.p. atrovirens for hedging as being more consistent in form and colour than the species itself. But if you can't get it, just go for the true species, Thuja plicata. I'm surprised to see that AT says it grows to 1.2 - 1.5m and then stops, as you quote. Bloom says it's a fast growing pyramidal tree, reaching 5 - 7m after 10 years, ultimately reaching 30 - 60m. The RHS encyclo. gives it's ultimate height as 20 - 35m, and also recommends T.p. atrovirens for hedging. I doubt that conifers actually stop growing, but just get very slow when they reach their mature height. Conifers that have a low mature height such as you're seeking are usually slow growing. If someone discovered what you describe, they'd make a fortune! It's every gardener's dream. Thuja plicata has been around in the UK for about 150 years and while I'm sure it makes an excellent hedge, if it did what AT describes, no-one would ever grow anything else. I agree. Thuja plicata atrovirens seems to be the variety normally sold for hedging, but it carries on growing! I have a single specimen which I planted five years ago and it's about 9'. However, growth is steady rather than dramatic and I think it's quite easily maintained compared with, say, Leylandii. Janet G |
#4
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Thuja Plicata
Thank you very much for your replies, much as I expected! No miracle cure
:-( I wont get rid of the hedge cutters just yet then! We shall get back to you if anymore problems arise, thanks again Ann Newman |
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