Emerald Green Arborvitae

The Arborvitae Emerald Green grows well without pruning. In fact, this is one tree that needs no pruning other than to remove dead branches. Although not needed, pruning can help make arborvitae emerald greens grow thicker.

You can prune dead or diseased limbs anytime of the year. Otherwise, shaping and pruning are best done in the spring with the new growth. Be sure to always keep the bottom of the tree wider than the top like a pyramid shape, since Emerald Arborvitaes have a naturally cylindrical growth habit and will not thrive if top-heavy.

Emerald Green Thujas grow moderately fast for their size. For the first few years, they will grow 1 to 2 feet per year. As more mature trees, they will grow up to 10 inches in height per year.

Emerald Green Arborvitaes can get to be 15 or 20 feet tall at most; they typically grow to 12 or 15 feet high. This makes them a great alternative to their cousin, the over 50 ft tall Thuja Green Giant Arborvitae.

Emerald Green Arborvitae is one of the densest trees you can find, making them ideal for privacy hedges. Typically, a row planted 3 feet apart is best when you want to plant a solid buffer or privacy screen. You can also create a staggered pair of rows for a thicker barrier, as illustrated below.

Wait to trim the tops until all of the trees have grown slightly past where you want the top of your hedge to be - this is to protect the leader branch while they are quickly growing to their mature height.

Early spring is traditionally considered one of the best times to plant since the last winter frost has thawed and plants are leaving dormancy to begin their spring growth. Fall is the next best option since temperatures become mild and plants are poised to focus on developing strong root systems before cold weather.

Emerald Green Arborvitaes can actually be planted almost any time of year. As long as they have lots of water available in very well-draining soil, and enough time before winter to establish their root system, you can plant your new Emerald Arborvitaes when it best suits you. We would recommend planting your Thuja Emerald Greens anytime between the last spring frost and at least three weeks prior to the first winter frost.

Emerald Green Arborvitaes, similar to other Arborvitae trees or shrubs, could have foliage turn brown and dry out for a variety of reasons. Not all of them mean your tree is ill or dying, however, so it is important to identify what might be the cause.

Sometimes, your Emerald Green Arborvitae will have some inner branches near the trunk turn brown, and this is simply a natural part of their life cycle. They will experience "seasonal needle drop" and shed some weight from their inner foliage.

First, check for any bugs or spots in order to rule out pests or fungal infections. Also, make sure to check for root rot by inspecting the roots. If roots are black and sickly, there may not have been enough drainage in the soil and the roots were sitting in water for too long.

If many branches turn brown in the winter, this is likely due to extremely cold temperatures, aggressive cold winds, and not enough water in colder months. This is called winter burn and it is not deadly. While some of these branches may not recover in the spring, typically most do come back - so wait to prune until spring growth is well underway. You can help your arborvitae avoid any winter bronzing by planting them away from harsh and exposed windy areas, wrapping them in burlap for winter protection, and by watering the ground whenever there is a pause in the freezing weather, such as an uncharacteristically warmer day.

If branches have begun to turn brown in the summer months, extreme heat can also be a culprit. Emerald Green Arborvitaes need to stay hydrated, especially during hot summer or droughts. Make sure to provide a deep long watering at least once a week until the drought ends or the weather cools. Mulch can also help keep the temperature around the roots regulated properly.