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How to Grow an Arborvitae Tree

Photo Credit
rlat/Getty Images
Botanical Name
Thuja occidentalis
Plant Type
Tree
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Part Sun
Soil pH
Neutral to Slightly Alkaline
Slightly Acidic to Neutral
Hardiness Zone
3
4
5
6
7
8
Special Features
Attracts Songbirds

Planting, Growing, and Pruning Arborvitaes

Catherine Boeckmann
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Arborvitae are a popular, rugged evergreen tree with dense blue-green foliage. It’s commonly used in home landscaping, often to provide privacy. Here’s how to plant, grow, and prune arborvitae.

About Arborvitae

The elegant American arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) is native to North America, and the tree is hardy in zones 2 to 7. What planting hardiness zone do you live in?

The most common varieties have a narrow pyramid shape that makes a natural choice for privacy hedges and windbreaks at the edge of gardens. Their dense foliage can create almost a “living wall.”

Dwarf and miniature cultivars make excellent accent plants or foundation plantings, too. 

Arborvitae will add color and texture to your landscape, and are sometimes even trimmed into topiary plants. Plus, easy care requirements make this a rewarding plant to grow. Learn more about landscaping your property with trees.

Read Next

Planting

When to Plant Arborvitae

  • Plant in early spring when the soil can be worked or in the fall before the ground freezes.

Where to Plant Arborvitae

  • Choose a location in full sun or partial shade with at least six hours of direct sunlight daily, preferably early in the day.
  • These trees get “thirsty” and prefer moist soil. So, plant the trees in a place that has access to watering until established and doesn’t get too dry.
  • Arborvitae are slow-growing, but some varieties can grow as tall as 60 feet, so consider their height at maturity when planting near any structures or powerlines.
  • Well before planting, amend the soil by digging in about 2 inches of compost or aged manure.

How to Plant Arborvitae

  • Dig the planting hole 2 to 3 times as wide and as deep as the root ball.
  • Loosen some of the roots in the root ball.
  • Plant the arborvitae in the hole so that the top edge of the root ball is level with the top of the hole.
  • Back-fill with soil around the root ball, tamping down with your hands. 
  • Soak the soil in the hole when you have filled it ½ full. 
  • Finish filling to the top edge of the root ball.
  • Water deeply. Learn more about how to water your plants for healthy growth.
  • Add a 2-inch layer of aged shredded wood mulch or pine straw around the arborvitae to conserve moisture. Avoid placing mulch directly against the stem.

Growing

How to Grow Arborvitae

  • Keep the soil consistently moist during the first growing season. Don’t let the soil dry out, but be careful not to over-water. 
  • Established arborvitae will require extra water only during prolonged periods of drought. 
  • Use stakes for support as newly planted arborvitaes are vulnerable to wind.
  • Fertilize the arborvitae in the spring with a slow-release high-nitrogen shrub/tree fertilizer.

How to Prune Arborvitae

  • Arborvitae do not require a lot of pruning. 
  • Plants that are used in formal hedges and foundation plantings can be trimmed with hedge shears to shape and spur new growth. 
  • Prune in early spring before new growth emerges. 
  • Trim from the bottom up. 
  • Shorten branches that are expanding beyond the desired length.
  • Prune damaged branches anytime.

How to Propagate Arborvitae

  • Take stem cuttings in late summer or fall.
  • Cut 4 to 5 inch cuttings from the current year’s branch growth.
  • Remove the leaves on the bottom half of the cutting.
  • Fill a small pot with organic soil mix or a mixture of sand and peat moss.
  • Stick the cutting into rooting hormone and then into the pot.
  • Water and cover the pot with a plastic dome or clear plastic wrap.
  • Place the pot in a location with filtered light.
  • Water if the soil gets dry.
  • It will take 6 to 8 weeks for the roots to form. 
  • Remove the plastic covering. 
  • Transplant into a bigger pot with soil.
  • Plant outdoors the following spring.

Types

The American arborvitae is a tall, dense, broad-pyramidal evergreen. This native tree can reach heights of 40’ to 60’. Choose plants with strong central stems to avoid damage from wind, snow or ice. 

  • ‘Brandon’ is a conical evergreen that can reach a height of 15’ and a width of 8’.  This cultivar is mildly fragrant and has scale-like foliage. It will tolerate a wide range of soil types as long as periodic deep watering is provided. 
  • ‘Emerald Green’ is a favorite for hedges. It grows to 15 feet tall and 4 feet wide, forming a tall column of brilliant green foliage.
  • ‘Art Boe’ also called North Pole arborvitae is a narrow upright shrub. It can grow for years in a container or if planted in the ground, it grows to 15 feet. 
  • ‘Hetz Midget’ is a hardy dwarf that reaches 3 to 4 feet tall. Its naturally round form makes it ideal for foundation plantings.
  • ‘Tom Thumb’ is a miniature and grows only 12 to 15 inches tall. It is a dense multi-stemmed shrub with a rounded form, perfect for containers or rock gardens. 
Gardening Products

Wit and Wisdom

  • The name arborvitae is the Latin form of the French l’arbre de vie, which means “tree of life.”
  • The genus name, Thuja, is from a Greek word for perfume.
  • Arborvitae was the first North American tree to be introduced to Europe.
  • Other names for arborvitae include northern white-cedar, eastern white-cedar, and swamp-cedar. 
  • The oldest living arborvitae is over 1,000 years old.
  • Native Americans made baskets from the roots and used the leaves in tea.
  • The wood is used for log cabins, fence posts, shingles, paneling, canoes, and wood crafting.

Pests/Diseases

Insect pests

Animal pests

  • Deer
  • Red squirrel

Diseases

  • Needle blight
  • Botrytis twig blight
Shrubs and Trees
About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening so it’s not surprising that she and The Old Farmer’s Almanac found each other. She leads digital content for the Almanac website, and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana. Read More from Catherine Boeckmann
 

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Comments

Joan (not verified)

6 months 1 week ago

The little buds on the arborvitae branches, are those seedlings or just new growth on the plant? I wanted to see if I could grow from these buds or is the stem cutting the easiest or best way? Thank you!

Hi Joan,

Arborvitaes do produce seeds, typically on older plants, but without seeing exactly what you are talking about it is hard to say what it is you are looking at. If what you are seeing is the early stages of arborvitae cones, they will change from juvenile, greenish-yellow cones to mature (brown) in early fall, at which point they’ll be ready for harvest.

Arborvitae can certainly be grown from seed, but due to genetic variations, you may not end up with the same variety if grown from seed. If you want to produce the same plant as you have now, it is best to take a cutting in late summer or fall and follow the instructions above. It is also a little easier to propagate from cuttings than seeds.

Hope this helps!

Sharon Brown (not verified)

6 months 1 week ago

I recently passed by my old house and noticed the Arborvitae I had planted near a kitchen window was gone. After reading this article, I now know why. I'm sorry poor tree! I didn't know any better back then! You were beautiful!

Catherine (not verified)

10 months 2 weeks ago

Can you transplant a mature arborvitae in the early spring?

Hi Catherine,

You can transplant your arborvitae in the spring. Of course, depending on its size and age, transplanting at any time of the year might be tricky. When transplanting in the spring, you will want to wait until the threat of frost has passed and the soil in workable.

Prior to transplant day there are a few steps you will want to take. The day before transplanting, you should water your plant to make sure it is well hydrated before the shock of moving and also dig the transplant hole and fill it with water. When decide to transplant, you should do so under overcast skies or during cooler evening hours. Just before digging your arborvitae from its current location, water it again. Once your arborvitae is in place, make sure you water while filling the hole with dirt and water again after it is fully planted.

Check the plant daily for the first couple of weeks as transplants may require watering every day—if not more. Make sure to check the soil for dryness a few inches below the surface to determine if more water is needed.

deerlovingmytrees (not verified)

1 year 7 months ago

I have several arborvitae, probably 20 feet tall). The deer have eaten all the green off the bottom several feet. Is it ok to cut that back and just have a bare trunk and the top green?

Yes, it is is okay to trim away any dead branches that are the result of the deer damage. But arborvitaes do have the ability to produce new buds and it might be best to wait until early summer to see if anything will grow on the lower branches. If not, you can prune your arborvitae to remove those bare branches. Moving forward, you might want to consider putting up a deterrent (i.e. fencing) around the bottom of your trees to prevent any further damage in the future.

Judith Davies (not verified)

4 years ago

We had the most beautiful fence of Arborvitae at our home in Wilbraham, Ma. Until one year the deer got very hungry and ate it all ! We did try again...but that fence came down, too ! The deer love Arborvitae !! And, I guess, we didn't mind all that much...they are such beautiful creatures. My husband always said..."wait till spring, you wo'nt love them so much then !" But we always did ! We live in Florida now and will always miss NE and the changing seasons. Happy Thanksgiving !

Mike (not verified)

4 years ago

Probably everyone with a garden has some arborvitae already but if not, get some! Plan on 5 to 7 years for maximum height and width. Rarely will you need to prune, if at all. Once established, they are nearly care free. I haven't fertilized them at all but reading the article, I suppose I could. I give a nice, long drink with a slow running hose near the base of each tree 2 or 3 times a season if it's on the dry side, maybe 5 minutes each. Spiders and spider mites, as mentioned, do seem to like making them home. I leave the spiders alone, they are harmless. Had spider mites twice, but not this year. The solution is very easy, just spray down each tree a few times per summer. They are classic along a fence or a single tree in a corner, etc. I do clean out debris from underneath in spring and fall so the trunk isn't smothered - leaf blower makes it easy. As with anything, tend carefully the first year after planting. Once established, they're usually good to go.