Planting tips

Time of year

Spring… If you are prepared to nurture your new shrubs through the summer you can successfully transplant arborvitae in early spring.

Fall… Transplanted arborvitae will have the winter months to establish new roots so the plant can take off in the spring. Another benefit is that nature takes over the watering chore soon after planting.

How far apart?

For a good hedge, plant your arborvitae 3' to a maximum of 4' apart from main stem to main stem.

Pyramidal plants grow more uniformly in width from top to bottom whereas the Emeralds grow to a point. For a privacy hedge you will probably want to place the Emeralds closer together than you would the Pyramidal variety.

Keep in mind that for either variety if they are too crowded and don't get enough light it could result in defoliation.

Prepare the hole

Prepare the planting hole by digging a width several inches wider than the root ball. Depth of the hole is more important than the proper width. Most plants have a preference when it comes to how deep to plant them. Arborvitaes are no different.

If the plant is being taken from a clay soil and located in clay soil, plant it at the same level at which it was growing previously. If it is coming from loose soil and going into a heavier soil, plant it slightly higher so water is more likely to drain away than stand in the "bowl" that the base of the plant creates.

Fertilize

If you are planting your arborvitae in the spring it may be beneficial to spray a freshly-transplanted shrub with a shot of Miracle-Gro to encourage new growth. You can skip this step if planting occurs in the fall as the plants will be getting ready to go dormant for winter and you shouldn't try to encourage new growth.

Water, water, water

The most critical activity in a successful transplant is water. You want to water not soak your plants. The symptoms of over watering are the same as under watering. Saturated soil deprives roots of oxygen. Plants will develop patches of brown and will appear stressed.

Water thoroughly when planting and then apply up to 3" of mulch to help retain the moisture. Thereafter, water as needed depending on soil and environmental conditions. At no time should the soil/rootball be kept soggy.