Emerald Green Arborvitae Thuja occidentalis 'Emerald Green'

Emerald Green Arborvitae Spacing

Plant one every 4 to 5 feet and they quickly create a dense barrier. For example, if you want Emerald Greens spread across an area approximately 50 feet in width, you’ll plant one every 4 to 5 feet. 

Planting the Emerald Green Thuja

Generally, we recommend planting Emerald Green in the spring or fall – as long as the ground isn’t frozen, you’re good to grow.

Dig a hole for each tree that is two to three times as wide as the root ball but just as deep. You don’t need to add anything to the planting hole. Place the tree and fill in around the tree with the same soil you took out when initially digging the hole. Finally, tamp down as you fill to cut back on any air pockets from forming, water the tree, then mulch to conserve moisture in the area.

When Do I Water My Emerald Green Thuja?

For the first two weeks, water your new tree every other day by holding a hose around it for about 20 seconds. If you don’t have a hose, one or two large watering cans will suffice.

After that, switch to watering every three days with the same method mentioned above. 

Once the first month has passed, water once a week unless it is dry and hot (no rain and temperatures above 80 degrees). 

And finally, after the first six months, your trees should be established and won’t need any extra water. Natural rainfall in your area should be sufficient at this stage, provided you aren’t experiencing drought conditions.

How Do I Prune My Emerald Green Thuja?

You don’t have to prune Emerald Greens; however, you can trim once a year to your desired height. We recommend pruning in the fall and trimming with clean shears, making symmetrical cuts at a 45-degree angle.

Left unpruned, Emerald Greens planted in rows can reach as high as 15 to 20 feet. However, most homeowners keep their Emerald Greens trimmed to around 12 feet.