Creating a private and beautiful outdoor space is a common goal for many homeowners. One of the most reliable and elegant solutions is landscaping with arborvitae. These versatile evergreen shrubs offer year-round structure and seclusion, making them a top choice for gardeners.
Their dense, scale-like foliage grows in a neat, columnar or pyramidal shape, providing an instant green screen. Whether you’re blocking a busy street, creating a garden room, or simply adding some elegant structure, arborvitae are incredibly useful. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from choosing the right variety to planting and long-term care.
Landscaping With Arborvitae
Arborvitae, from the Latin for “tree of life,” are a group of conifers in the Thuja genus. They are prized for their fast growth, low maintenance needs, and adaptability. While often used in rows for hedging, their potential in landscape design is much broader. You can use them as single specimen plants, foundation plantings, or even in large containers.
The key to success is selecting the right type for your specific goal and location. Not all arborvitae are created equal, and making the wrong choice can lead to disappointment.
Choosing the Perfect Arborvitae Variety
With many cultivars available, picking the right one is your first critical step. Consider your available space, desired height, and hardiness zone.
Here are some of the best varieties for privacy and elegance:
* Emerald Green (Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’): This is arguably the most popular privacy hedge choice. It maintains a bright emerald-green color all year, has a tight, narrow pyramid shape, and grows to about 12-15 feet tall. It rarely needs pruning to keep its form.
* Green Giant (Thuja standishii x plicata ‘Green Giant’): If you need a massive, fast-growing screen, this is your plant. It can grow 3-5 feet per year, reaching 50-60 feet tall. It’s resistant to deer browsing and many common diseases, making it a tough option.
* Techny (Thuja occidentalis ‘Techny’): Also known as ‘Mission’ arborvitae, this variety is known for its exceptional cold hardiness and rich green winter color. It has a broad pyramid shape, growing to 10-15 feet, and is very low-maintenance.
* Degroot’s Spire (Thuja occidentalis ‘Degroot’s Spire’): For a truly elegant, narrow accent, this variety is stunning. It has a unique, spiraling growth habit and a very slender profile, perfect for tight spaces or as a vertical element in a garden bed.
* Fire Chief (Thuja occidentalis ‘Congabe’): This is a fantastic choice for adding color. It’s a dwarf, globe-shaped shrub with foliage that changes from gold in spring to orange-red in fall and winter. Use it as a low accent in front of taller green screens.
Planning Your Arborvitae Landscape Design
Before you buy a single plant, take time to plan. Good planning prevents overcrowding, ensures proper sunlight, and creates the look you want.
Assessing Your Site
Arborvitae generally need full sun to partial shade (at least 6 hours of direct sun). Too much shade leads to thin, sparse growth. Check your soil drainage; they hate “wet feet.” If water pools in an area, consider improving drainage or choosing a different spot.
Measure the length of the area where you want to plant. This will determine how many plants you need. Also, check for overhead wires or underground utilities before you start digging.
Design Ideas for Privacy and Style
A straight row is classic, but don’t be afraid to get creative.
* The Classic Hedge: Plant in a single, straight line for a formal look. This is best for property lines or along a fence.
* Staggered Double Row: For a thicker, more impenetrable screen, plant two rows in a zig-zag pattern. This adds depth and blocks gaps more effectively.
* Garden Room Walls: Use arborvitae to define the boundaries of an outdoor seating area or patio, creating intimate “walls” for your open-air room.
* Specimen and Accent Planting: A single, unique variety like ‘Degroot’s Spire’ can serve as a living sculpture in a mixed border.
* Foundation Planting: Use smaller, globe-shaped varieties at the corners of your home to soften the architecture and provide year-round color.
Spacing is Everything
This is the most common mistake. Planting too close leads to competition for light and water, causing the inner foliage to die and making plants susceptible to disease.
As a general rule:
* For a tight hedge, space plants 2-3 feet apart.
* For a looser, more natural screen, space them 4-6 feet apart, depending on the variety’s mature width.
* Always reference the nursery tag for the specific cultivar’s mature spread and plan accordingly.
The Step-by-Step Planting Process
Proper planting gives your arborvitae the best possible start. The best times to plant are early fall or spring, when temperatures are mild.
1. Dig the Hole: Dig a hole that is two to three times as wide as the root ball, but only as deep as the root ball itself. Planting too deep is a major cause of failure.
2. Prepare the Root Ball: Gently remove the container. If the roots are densely circling, use your fingers or a knife to score the sides and bottom to encourage outward growth.
3. Position the Plant: Set the plant in the hole, ensuring the top of the root ball is level with or slightly above the surrounding soil grade.
4. Backfill: Mix some compost or peat moss with the native soil you removed. Use this mix to backfill around the root ball, tamping it down gently as you go to remove air pockets.
5. Water Deeply: Create a shallow berm of soil around the planting hole to form a water basin. Soak the area thoroughly, allowing the water to settle the soil.
6. Mulch: Apply 2-3 inches of organic mulch, like shredded bark, around the base of the plant. Keep the mulch a few inches away from the trunk itself to prevent rot.
Essential Care for Healthy, Elegant Plants
Once established, arborvitae are quite easy to care for. Consistent attention in the first few years is crucial for long-term health.
Watering Wisely
Watering is critical, especially for the first two years. Deep, infrequent watering is much better than frequent shallow sprinkling.
* New Plants: Water deeply 2-3 times per week, depending on weather.
* Established Plants: Water during prolonged dry spells. A good rule is to provide about 1 inch of water per week, either from rainfall or irrigation.
* Winter Watering: Don’t forget to water in late fall before the ground freezes if the autumn has been dry. This prevents winter desiccation.
Feeding Your Arborvitae
Arborvitae are not heavy feeders. Over-fertilizing can cause excessive, weak growth.
* Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring as new growth begins.
* You can also top-dress with compost around the root zone each spring.
* Avoid fertilizing in late summer or fall, as this can promote new growth that won’t harden off before winter.
Pruning for Density and Form
Pruning is where you maintain both privacy and elegance. The goal is to encourage dense growth while guiding the plant’s shape.
* When to Prune: The best time is in late spring or early summer, after the main flush of new growth has emerged. You can do a light tidy-up in early fall.
* How to Prune: Never cut back into old, brown wood, as it may not regrow. Always prune just into the green, leafy growth. Use sharp, clean tools.
* Hedge Pruning: For a formal hedge, prune the sides so the base is slightly wider than the top. This allows sunlight to reach the lower branches, preventing them from thinning out.
* Topping: You can control the height by lightly shearing the top. It’s better to do this annually rather than making one large cut on an overgrown plant.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
Even with good care, issues can arise. Here’s how to identify and adress common arborvitae problems.
* Bagworms: These pests create small, cone-shaped bags hanging from the branches. Hand-pick and destroy them in winter or early spring before eggs hatch. For larger infestations, use a targeted insecticide in early summer.
* Spider Mites: They cause foliage to look stippled or bronzed. Spray foliage with a strong jet of water regularly or use horticultural oil.
* Leaf Blight: This fungal disease causes tips of branches to turn brown and die back. Improve air circulation, avoid overhead watering, and prune out affected branches. Fungicides can help in severe cases.
* Winter Burn: Foliage turns brown, especially on the south-facing side, due to winter sun and wind. Protect young plants with burlap screens and ensure adequate fall watering.
* Deer Damage: Deer will browse on arborvitae, especially in winter. ‘Green Giant’ is more resistant, but for other varieties, you may need repellents or physical barriers.
Enhancing Elegance: Companion Planting
While a stand-alone arborvitae hedge is effective, combining it with other plants adds layers of texture, color, and year-round interest.
Consider planting in front of or around your arborvitae screen:
Ornamental Grasses: The soft, flowing texture of grasses like Panicum or Miscanthus contrasts beautifully with the rigid form of arborvitae.
* Flowering Shrubs: Hydrangeas, spirea, or potentilla add seasonal blooms in front of your evergreen backdrop.
* Perennials: Hostas, ferns, and heucheras can fill the lower layer with foliage interest, especially in partial shade conditions.
* Spring Bulbs: Daffodils and tulips will pop with color in early spring before the rest of the garden wakes up.
Long-Term Maintenance and Winter Protection
As your arborvitae mature, their needs simplify, but don’t neglect them entirely. Monitor for signs of stress, like yellowing or thinning foliage. Refresh the mulch layer annually to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
In snowy climates, gently brush heavy, wet snow off the branches to prevent them from bending or breaking. Avoid using de-icing salts near your plants, as salt runoff can damage their roots.
With proper selection, planting, and care, your arborvitae will provide decades of privacy, structure, and elegant beauty to your landscape. They are a living investment that grows more valuable each year.
FAQ: Your Arborvitae Questions Answered
How fast do arborvitae grow for privacy?
Growth rates vary. ‘Green Giant’ is very fast (3-5 ft/year), while ‘Emerald Green’ is moderate (1-2 ft/year). Most will create a effective screen within 3-5 years if planted at the proper size and spacing.
What is the best arborvitae for a small yard?
For narrow spaces, choose columnar varieties like ‘Emerald Green’ or ‘Degroot’s Spire’. For low accents, dwarf globes like ‘Danica’ or ‘Fire Chief’ are perfect.
Can I plant arborvitae in the shade?
They prefer full sun. They will tolerate light shade, but growth will be thinner and less dense, compromising your privacy goal. Heavy shade should be avoided.
Why are the bottom of my arborvitae turning brown?
This is often due to lack of sunlight, drought stress, or disease. Ensure proper watering, prune to allow light to reach the base, and check for signs of fungal issues.
How far from my fence should I plant arborvitae?
Plant at least 3-4 feet from a solid fence to allow for air circulation and future growth. Consider the mature width of your chosen variety—plant the trunk half that distance plus one foot away from the fence line.
Do arborvitae have invasive roots?
No, their root systems are relatively shallow and fibrous. They are not known to damage foundations or sidewalks like some trees with aggressive roots can.
Can you cut the top off an arborvitae?
Yes, you can prune the top to control height. Do it gradually, cutting back into green growth. Avoid cutting off more than one-third of the tree’s height at once, as this can shock the plant.