How to Plant, Grow, and Care For ‘Emerald Green’ Arborvitae

Privacy screens and hedges are an increasingly popular component of our gardens. If you have noticed evergreen hedges in your area, they are probably ‘Emerald Green’ arborvitae. These plants large and dependable, with beautiful evergreen foliage and low maintenance requirements. 

If you are looking for the perfect evergreen privacy shrub for your garden, you have come to the right place. This shrub is simple to care for. Let’s take a look at how to grow ‘Emerald Green’ arborvitae successfully with a few simple tips!

What is ‘Emerald Green’ Arborvitae?

‘Emerald Green’ is one of the most popular arborvitae varieties for residential hedges. You may also know this variety by the trade name ‘Smaragd’. This translates to “emerald” in Danish. 

This shrub is a member of the Thuja genus, which is quite large and diverse. The plants in this genus are all evergreen but they vary greatly in size. 

Native Area

‘Emerald Green’ arborvitae is native to North America, specifically the northeastern parts of the United States and Canada. These large evergreen shrubs grow in moist areas such as riversides, wet forests, swamps, and lakeside shores. 

Characteristics

The ‘Emerald Green’ arborvitae is very attractive and perfect for privacy hedges. This dense shrub has flat sprays of needles that are bright, glossy green. It also produces attractive cones that turn red in the fall, adding a slight pop of color. However, this shrub is not usually grown for its cone production.

The shrubs grow up to 10-15 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide, depending on the spacing. They are fairly fast-growing and add 12-24″ of growth per year under the proper conditions. 

Planting

Fall or spring are the best times of year to plant arborvitae. These shrubs do best when they have time to establish new roots before it is too hot or too cold.  

Transplanting

Arborvitae are easy to plant. Depending on the size of the shrub you have purchased, you may want to enlist some help. These shrubs come in nursery pots or burlap wrapping. 

To plant:

1. Water your shrub before you dig a hole. This will help prevent transplant shock.
2. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and a little bit deeper. 
3. Loosen the roots a bit and spread them evenly throughout the hole.
4. Situate the crown of the plant level with the soil surface.
5. Begin to backfill your plant with garden soil. 
6. Lightly pack the soil with your hands.
7. Water thoroughly.
8. Add mulch and compost around the base of the plant for added nutrition and to retain moisture. 

Spacing

Most arborvitae do best when spaced 3-4 feet apart. Closer spacing creates a denser privacy screen, but you don’t want to plant the shrubs so closely that they compete with each other.

The minimum spacing is 18 inches, but this will yield smaller, ultra-dense trees. Wider spacing will yield the tallest trees (up to 15 feet), but it may take more time for the privacy screen to fill in.

How to Grow

This attractive privacy hedge is easy to grow and very low maintenance. Let’s learn more about how to care for these evergreen shrubs. 

Light

‘Emerald Green’ grows best in full sun, but this variety tolerates partial shade. Aim for six hours of direct sunlight per day. Too much sunlight can cause the foliage to burn, while too much shade can cause sparse growth, which will impact the overall beauty of this shrub. 

Water

Your newly planted shrub needs to be watered every day or two as it develops its root system in its new home. 

Once your arborvitae is established, your shrub will need about one inch of water per week. Use a rain gauge to make sure that your shrub is getting enough water from rainfall and supplement if needed.

Soil

‘Emerald Green’ grows best in moist soil that is well-draining. These shrubs are not picky about soil type so long as the soil retains the right amount of water. If the soil around the root zones is wet for too long, the roots may become soggy and prone to root rot or other issues. 

Adding mulch and/or compost around the root zone can help to balance the moisture content of your soil.  

Temperature and Humidity

When it comes to humidity, ‘Emerald Green’ prefers dry conditions. If you live in an area that experiences high humidity, don’t worry— your arborvitae will still grow nicely, but you may need to take a few extra steps. Ensure plants are spaced properly, about four feet apart, to ensure proper airflow. Keep your eyes open for any signs of fungal disease, and treat as soon as you can. 

Avoid planting this species in areas of your yard exposed to high winds. Wind will dry out your arborvitae and bronze the foliage, detracting from the green beauty that you are longing for. 

Fertilizing

Once a shrub is established in your yard, you can begin fertilizing. These shrubs benefit from a balanced fertilizer application in the springtime. The amount of fertilizer you should use will differ depending on the product you are using and the size of your plant. Over-fertilizing can harm your shrubs, so follow the label instructions carefully. 

Maintenance

In general, arborvitae are extremely low-maintenance. Once they are established your main concern will be keeping them watered properly. 

Pruning

On occasion, you may need to prune to remove broken limbs or slightly shape your shrub. ‘Emerald Green’ naturally grows in a narrow pyramidal shape and will not typically require your help to maintain its attractive shape. 

Prune with a simple pair of loppers or hand pruners. 

Overwintering

One of the biggest selling points of ‘Emerald Green’ is its cold tolerance. If you live in a colder climate, you may want to take a few precautions to ensure that your shrub does not endure any damage.

Snowfall and ice can snap limbs, and winds and salt can cause the foliage to brown or dry out. To protect from physical damage, wrap your shrubs with burlap, securing the fabric in place with twine. 

Drought can cause foliage to dry out and become discolored. Unfortunately, you cannot control how much snow or rain you may get over the winter. But you can do a few things before the ground freezes to send your shrubs into winter with their best shot:

1. First, continue to water your arborvitae until the ground freezes.
2. Secondly, mulch is not just for spring!
3. Mulching around the base of your plant in the autumn can help the soil to retain as much moisture as possible while also insulating the roots from high winds. 

Propagation

The most successful way to propagate arborvitae is through semi-hardwood cuttings. Semi-hardwood cuttings have both new growth and foliage but also partially matured wood. The best time to take these cuttings is in late summer.

Cuttings

Taking semi-hardwood cuttings is very simple. Timing is important. You are looking for new growth that has had some time to mature. Late summer is the perfect time to spot this type of growth. 

To propagate by cutting:

1. Trim a section of your arborvitae about 12 inches long. 
2. Remove the bottom foliage.
3. Dip your cutting in rooting powder if you choose.
4. Prepare a container with sterile growing material such as sand. Moisten the material.
5. Stick your cutting into the pot and cover with a plastic bag. 
6. Place your container in indirect sunlight. 
7. Keep the growing material moist, and gently tug on the cutting from time to time.
8. When your cutting shows resistance, it has formed roots.
9. Keep your cutting in this container for as long as you like. The longer the better, this will allow the cutting to develop more roots.

Before planting your new ‘Emerald Green’ arborvitae, move the container outdoors to a protective area. This process is called hardening off, and it allows the plant to get used to the unprotected elements. It also helps to reduce shock.

Common Problems

Despite being very low maintenance plants ‘Emerald Green’ arborvitae can run into a few issues in your gardens. Let’s look at some of the more common problems you may notice on your shrubs and how to solve or prevent these issues.

Pests

Any insects you find in your garden may also be spotted on your arborvitae. Scale, caterpillars, mealybugs, mites, and leaf miners are all common on ‘Emerald Green’ arborvitae. Treat these insects with neem or horticultural oil. Do your best to prevent infestations by ensuring the best plant care that you can. This includes adequate watering, proper fertilization, and proper planting techniques. 

These large evergreen shrubs are not the favorite food of any wildlife. But keep in mind that, in times of need, animals will eat any available plants, including your ‘Emerald Green’ arborvitae. Deer and bagworms will take a nibble here and there, but often don’t do enough damage which would require you to take action.

Diseases

The most common diseases that ‘Emerald Green’ arborvitae will run into are fungal, such as root rot and canker. The good news is that fungal diseases can be prevented. Check your watering schedule and make sure the soil is not over-saturated. Proper planting depth and spacing are also crucial to increasing airflow. 

Prune away any diseased or damaged parts of your tree as they arise, and you should have no problem keeping the issue under control.

Frequently Asked Questions