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.