White cedar Thuja 'Smaragd' green - Hardy plant
White cedar Thuja 'Smaragd' green - Hardy plant
The 'Smaragd' should be pruned once a year, in autumn. Plant the hardy Thuja in a nice sheltered spot in full sun or partial shade. The soil should be kept damp. Give it extra water during dry periods.
| Latin name: | Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd' |
| Delivery type: | Supplied as container plant |
| Guarantee: | 6 months growth and flowering guarantee |
| Color: | Green |
| Preferred location: | Sun, Half shadow |
| Green stayer: | Yes |
| Leafs all year: | Yes |
| Hardy plants: | Yes |
| Self polinating: | No |
| Edible: | No |
| Scented: | Not Scented |
| Grafted: | No |
| Cutting flowers: | No |
For a Thuja occidentalis hedge, dig a channel about 60-80 cm in depth. Add compost and fertiliser to the soil that you dig out. Add some sharp sand to soil that is rich in clay. Before planting, set the trees in some water for an hour. Distribute them across the channel. You need three trees per metre with this plant. You can also double the rows for an even wider hedge. The top of the root ball must be at ground level in the garden (take into consideration that the soil will sink a bit). Fill the channel with soil, pat it down with your feet and give the plants enough water so that it practically creates a swamp. During the first year, water the plants regularly.
Solitary plants
This conifer thrives when it is planted by itself and has plenty of space. It will grow into a pyramid shape that later becomes more upright. A location in full sun in moist yet well-draining soil is preferred. Pruning is not necessary.
Make sure that you water the conifer every week during the first year after planting. Once it has established itself, it can handle a bit of a dry spell. Thuja occidentalis is a hardy, evergreen conifer that requires little maintenance. Be sure that the soil does not dry out during long droughts. A layer of compost mulch and cow manure pellets does wonders during the winter.
Pruning arborvitae
Between May and late September, you can prune a Thuja occidentalis hedge twice. When pruning, the bottom of the hedge should be equally as wide as the top. Even a bit wider is preferably, so that the entire hedge gets enough light. Want to prune it into a perfectly straight shape? If so, attach a rope to the top of the hedge. Do not trim too far in, because there still needs to be some foliage on the top branches. This conifer does not enjoy being pruned too deeply.
This evergreen conifer can grow very tall! There are many cultivars available that vary in colour and shape. The upright arborvitae is perfectly suited for an evergreen hedge of up to 2-3 metres. The tree can handle wind, is winter-hardy and looks absolutely stunning.