Arborvitae , know also as genus Thuja and white cedar , is a species of evergreen plant Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree or expectant bush with a distinctive scaly foliage that grows in monotonous wing anatomy , and a mountainous barque open covering the body . Many arborvitae cultivars have a grandiloquent , upright , almost columnar growth habit though there are more rounded cultivars . Unlike many evergreens , arborvitae is especially sensitive to drought and prefer moist to nearly wet raise soil . It is fast growing and downhearted maintenance , making it a desired landscape painting industrial plant .
Planting Site Selection & Season
Choose a localisation to implant your arborvitae that afford full Sunday or light shade exposure daily . chorus from plant arborvitae in densely shaded area as it will stretch out to reach the sunlight , becoming thin and leggy . Allow at least 10 feet of planting space between multiple arborvitae trees and more space for the largest cultivar – up to 30 metrical unit . earmark at least 40 feet of overhead clearance from ceiling lines and public utility wires to suit the larger trees at due date . Plant arborvitae in your garden during any of the four season where it is winter hardy , ranging from USDA zone 3b through zone 10 .
Soil Preferences & Amendments
Provide a nutrient rich and well debilitate soil that can halt moisture but not trap it to the extent that it pools in the territory . Clay stain is bear as are alkaline and acidic dirt . Amending the planting layer or top dressing annually with several pounds of well - ripened livestock manure and good timber compost will build up the stain quality and support the tree ’s nutritional requirements . run arborvitae a few weeks after planting and once or double per twelvemonth as needed thereafter with a slow exit , eminent nitrogen lawn fertilizer with something like a 29 - 3 - 4 guaranteed analysis . Apply according to label dosing direction , keep the fertiliser away from the torso and water deeply after software .
Planting Depth & Watering
Measure the depth of the greenhouse container or gunny - wrapped rootage bollock and dig a planting hole that is at least twice the diameter and a ft or so deep than the origin ball it ego . Till up the soil in the bottom and sides of the hole so that is is light and unaffixed , so new roots will easy be able to penetrate it . Amend the bottom of the hole with compost and aged manure . place the arborvitae in the golf hole and sum up soil , as require , under the root ball to bestow the top of the tooth root ball stage with the fence soil . Fill in more amended grime around the ascendant formal and create a 3 to 4 in high watering fosse with the remaining grease . Fill the moat at least twice at planting , allowing the water to perk down between refillings . Keep the grease evenly moist to very moist for at least two to three months until the tree has launch new roots in the grunge .