Thuja Green Giant Care

Thuja Green Giant (Thuja standishii x plicata), belonging to the family Cupressaceae is a rapidly growing evergreen hardy tree. It is a hybrid between Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata) and the Japanese Thuja (Thuja standishii). This tree is pyramidal to conical in shape. Possessing a vibrant, rich green color, it has a uniform appearance, standing tall at 60-80 feet. When it matures, it can spread to almost 20 feet across. The foliage consists of dark green scaly leaves, arranged in a spray, which grow on horizontal, ascending branches. Fruits, or cones, are oblong in shape, and about half an inch in length. The tree bears green cones, which turn brown on maturity. Highly adaptable, it prefers rich, loamy soils.

This tree, because of its dark, dense foliage is a favorite with landscapers and homeowners, since it makes a real good privacy screen, especially when several Green Giants are planted in a row. It also acts as a barrier to damaging wind gusts.

Caring for Your Thuja Green Giant

To grow your own Thuja Green Giant, pick a nice spot that receives six hours of direct sunlight daily. The soil should be free from any debris, including dead roots and plants. You can improve the nutritional value of the soil by aerating it, and adding manure or peat moss to it. Aerating will allow the soil to drain well. Ideally, plant the tree in spring. If you plant in fall, make sure you plant it at least six weeks before the ground begins to frost over. If you want this tree to act as a privacy screen, plant several of them, 5 feet apart from each other. Be sure to keep the soil moist as long as the tree is young. Irrigate deeply, such that the water penetrates all the way down to the root level. Newly planted Thuja Green Giant trees need sufficient water, so avoid planting during droughts.

When the Thuja Green Giant is still extremely young, it is prone to damage from the wind and snow. To avoid such damage, water the plant deeply at the onset of winter, to avoid freezing over. Harsh winter air can dry out the roots and leaves. To protect the roots, add a layer of mulch, at least 2 inches thick, to the roots. You can use dry bark or wood chips as mulch. Mulch inhibits the growth of weeds and also locks the moisture in. To protect the leaves from losing moisture and suffering ice damage, wrap burlap over young trees, and secure the burlap with a rope. Start wrapping from the base, and make your way to the top. Do not wrap it too tight, or you may break off the branches. Leave a few openings in between. To protect your young trees from wind damage, insert wooden stakes in the soil besides the hedgerow. Using nails, attach burlap, or any fabric made from coarse material like hemp, to the stakes. This will act as a barrier and prevent the trees from getting ruined by strong winds. When spring approaches, remove the burlap covering. Do not use any kind of wires to secure the trees, this can be damaging. Do not cover the trees in a plastic sheet, you may suffocate them!

Fertilize the tree thrice in a year, preferably between the months of March and September. In summer, use an evergreen fertilizer. If the tree is very young and it is your first fertilizer application, dilute the fertilizer, so you do not harm the roots. Do not mix the fertilizer in the soil, but sprinkle it around the base of the tree. Its best to use a slow-release fertilizer. Use stronger fertilizers only after your trees are deeply rooted and well established. Avoid using salt sprays on young trees. If you come across any dead leaves, or leaves which have begun to discolor, immediately trim them off. Also trim any overreaching branches, this gives a shape to your tree. These trees do not require a lot of pruning, they will acquire the conical shape on their own.

Thuja Green Giant, once matured, requires almost little or no maintenance. Resistant to diseases and deer, adult Thuja Green Giant trees can also withstand harsh weather conditions. You can use the flattened sprays of this evergreen tree as a Christmas decoration too. So if you have a sprawling garden and need privacy, go right ahead and plant rows of Thuja Green Giant trees, and they will stand as sentinels around your house for years to come.