Emerald Green Arborvitae

If you are looking for privacy and want aesthetic beauty surrounding your garden, then you can think about planting emerald green arborvitae trees. The green arborvitae is a conifer that is the common name for Thuja plants. The term arborvitae is a Latin term that means 'tree of life'. This hardy plant is resistant to cold and is a great alternative for large evergreen trees. Let us have a look at some detailed information related to emerald green arborvitae care in the following paragraphs.

Information on Emerald Green
Emerald green arborvitae is an easy to grow tree. This evergreen cypress tree belongs to the Cupressaceae family. It has bright emerald green foliage. The leaves are bright green color in a young plant that turns darker as the plant matures. This evergreen tree can reach a height of about 30 feet. It has a spread of about 8 to 10 feet/year. These trees are a great choice for small yards that can be planted near foundations or tight areas of the garden. They are easy to maintain and will grow in different types of soil.

Growth Rate of Emerald Green
If you are wondering about the green arborvitae growth rate, then these are slow growers. The first year after planting arborvitae, the plant may grow about 4 to 9" inches in height and about 2 to 6" in width. So, on an average it has a growth rate of about 6" to 12" per year.

Plant Care Related Emerald Green
When you are planting arborvitae, you need to keep some care requirements in mind. The arborvitae needs to be planted in soil with a pH of about 6.5 to 7.5. They grow well in USDA zones 2 to 7. When you plant the tree, you will observe the first year the plant does not have much of top growth. Do not worry, as the plant is busy establishing its roots. As mentioned above the green arborvitae growth rate is a bit slow and it will add only 9" in height per year. They do not appreciate shade and love to grow in full or partial sun. The soil should be well-drained. However, make sure you water the plant regularly during the initial first year. Do not undertake pruning if you are planning to grow these trees as tall, thin hedges. You see, if these trees are not pruned at all, they will grow tall and narrow. However, if you desire a well-rounded tree, then prune the plant on the top. Remove the dead branches in spring by pulling at them with your hands.

Emerald green arborvitae are disease resistant plants to a great extent. Tiny spider mites are the common pests that will infect the plants. You need to wash off these pests by bathing your trees with a powerful water spray. Also, use insecticides to get rid of these bugs. You will commonly find arborvitae turning brown in cold winter. It is important to keep arborvitae spacing in mind while planting these plants. You need to follow the basic rule of 2 feet centers. If you are planning to grow narrow trees, then you need to space them closer. This means the trunk of the trees are to be planted 2 feet apart from each other. However, if you want to grow them as thick as bushes, then they need to be spaced about 8 to 10 feet apart. You also need to feed them water-soluble or granular fertilizers. You can add the fertilizers in early spring and then in mid-fall. Do not feed the plants with fertilizers in summer and especially when you have just transplanted the tree.

Landscaping Ideas with Emerald Green
There are plenty of landscaping ideas that you can apply when planting arborvitae. Some people like to grow arborvitae as a privacy barrier. Their ability to grow in tight areas makes them perfect hedge plants. It is also an ideal plant to be grown as a windbreaker as well as defining your landscape as an edge plant.

This was all about the arborvitae care and growth requirements. This is a very popular tree that has a naturally conical shape. However, these trees are slow growers. You can grow the emerald green arborvitae in your gardens and keep away nosy neighbors for good.