Emerald Green (Thuja Tree)

Thuja Plicata 'Emerald Green' – Emerald Green Arborvitae

Transform your outdoor space with Thuja plicata 'Emerald Green', a popular choice for creating elegant, vibrant privacy screens and hedges. Known for its lush evergreen foliage, this compact arborvitae offers year-round beauty and structure.

Key Features:

• Dense Evergreen Foliage: Bright emerald-green leaves remain vibrant year-round.

• Compact, Upright Growth: Ideal for tight spaces, providing an excellent privacy screen without sprawling.

• Low Maintenance: Highly adaptable, disease-resistant, and tolerant of pruning.

• Fast Growing: Establishes quickly to create beautiful, uniform hedges.

• Versatile Landscaping: Perfect for hedges, border planting, accent trees, or foundation plantings.

Plant Specifications:

• Mature Height: 10–15 feet

• Mature Spread: 3–4 feet

• Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

• Soil Preferences: Well-drained, moderately moist soils

• USDA Zones: 4–8

Planting Guide:

Site Selection

Select a location with full sun to partial shade and well-draining soil. Avoid low areas where water collects.

Hole Preparation

• Width: 2–3× wider than the root ball

• Depth: No deeper than the root ball height

The tree should sit on undisturbed soil, not loose backfill.
If drainage is marginal, lightly mound soil in the center to prevent settling.

Important: Do not dig deeper than necessary. Planting too deep is a leading cause of decline.

Proper Planting Depth (Critical)

• Plant at grade or slightly above grade

• Top of root ball should sit 0–1 inch above surrounding soil

• Root flare must remain visible at finished grade

• Never plant below surrounding soil level

When finished, you should clearly see where the trunk transitions into the roots.

Backfill

• Use the same native soil removed from the hole

• Do not heavily amend the planting hole

• Avoid creating a “bathtub effect” in clay soils

Firm soil gently to remove air pockets without compacting.

Mulch

• Apply 2–3 inches of mulch

• Keep mulch 1–2 inches away from the trunk

• Do not mound mulch against the bark

Watering

Water deeply immediately after planting.
Continue regular deep watering during establishment, especially in the first growing season.

Heavy Clay Soils

• Plant 1–2 inches high

• Lightly slope soil away from trunk

• Avoid over-amending soil inside the hole

Proper elevation prevents oxygen deprivation and root disease.

Why Depth Matters

Planting too deep:

• Reduces oxygen to roots

• Increases risk of root rot

• Promotes girdling roots

• Causes slow decline over several years

Improper depth is a common failure point in arborvitae installations.

Spacing Guide for Privacy Screening:

• Plant 2–3 feet apart for dense, seamless privacy hedges.

Enhance your landscape effortlessly with Thuja plicata 'Emerald Green', the perfect evergreen for elegant privacy and structured beauty.