How Far Apart to Plant Arborvitae Green Giant
The Arborvitae is a beautiful, evergreen tree that is typically planted in rows. Arbor Vitae trees are often used as a privacy screen for homes and gardens. However, planting these trees too close together can cause them to grow into each other or have stunted growth.
But how far apart should you plant this tree? That depends on where you live, as well as what your goals are with your new planting. In this post, we will go over how far apart to plant Arborvitae green giant plants so that you can get the most out of your new addition to your landscape!
Why Choose Arborvitae Green Giant?
The Arborvitae Green Giant is a durable, low-maintenance evergreen shrub used for ornamental and privacy screening purposes. It grows into tree-like stature at 3 to 6 feet in height with 2-inch long dark green needles.
These are relatively new on the market but have become very popular because of their ease of care. They can be planted just about anywhere and require very little maintenance.
10 Reasons Why You Should Plant Arborvitae Green Giant?
1. Multiple Uses:
With their towering height and dense foliage, Green Giant Arborvitae make an excellent privacy screen, windbreak, or ornamental hedge. Properly trimmed, they provide an attractive natural backdrop for outdoor living spaces.
2. Drought Tolerant:
Green Giant Arborvitae is drought tolerant and adapts to most soil types. It needs little maintenance, including mowing or fertilizing.
3. Easy to Plant:
Arborvitae Green Giant is easy to plant and transplant because it can handle heavy pruning, compact root balls, and carries little weight per cubic foot.
4. Maintenance Free:
It requires no fertilizer, weed control, or insect protection after planting.
5. Snowbirds:
The best thing about Green Giant Arborvitae is that it does not fall apart in winter, making transplanting this plant a breeze! Plus, snowbirds will love the color and screening effect of the Green Giant Arborvitae year round!
6. Versatility:
Green Giant Arborvitae can be used as a hedge or screen in response to adverse conditions such as soil erosion, weed infestation, or watering once established.
7. Cover Cuts:
Green Giant Arborvitae is an excellent tree to cover exposed cuts or wounds because it heals well with little pruning, less scarring, and fewer callbacks.
8. Fire Control:
Green Giant Arborvitae has a higher salt tolerance than most other evergreens, making it an excellent choice for fire control.
9. Privacy:
Green Giant Arborvitae is often used in commercial and industrial settings because it provides privacy and reduces energy costs.
10. Screening Effect:
It’s the perfect touch for patios, walkways, decks, play areas, ponds, mazes, or any landscape where you are looking for a more natural and attractive appearance.
Now that you know the ten great reasons why you should plant Green Giant Arborvitae to create a natural screen, it’s time to get your hands on some today.
Instructions: How Far Apart to Plant Arborvitae Green Giant
Green Giant Arborvitae is popular because of their large size at maturity, attractive pyramidal forms, and slow growth rates. In addition, these evergreens are relatively low-maintenance plants that require little pruning to develop into a well-shaped specimen. Here we have provided some steps on how far apart to plant arborvitae green giant.
Step 1: Prepare The Planting Site
Remove organic matter, rocks, debris, and weeds from the planting site, till the soil to a depth of 8 to 10 inches in preparation for transplanting large plants like Arborvitae into the area. Early spring or fall is when you should perform this task.
Step 2: Remove Existing Vegetation
Remove existing vegetation by cutting the plants off at ground level or using a weed killer on unwanted grasses and weeds. A glyphosate-based herbicide is best for this application and will not harm desired plants like Arborvitae.
Step 3: Apply Fertilizer.
Apply a slow-release fertilizer with an adequate amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium at the rate of 1 pound per 100 square feet. Arborvitae green giant requires an application of 2 to 3 pounds of actual nitrogen each year for proper growth. This can be added in split applications throughout the growing season (early spring or late summer).
Step 4: Water
Water the land immediately after preparation is completed. This will encourage rooting into the soil and will help to reduce transplant shock. Water regularly for six weeks after planting to establish the root system in your yard.
Step 5: Mulch
Apply approximately 2 inches of mulch around trees, but keep it at least 4-inches away from the trunk of Arborvitae. This will help to retain moisture and keep weeds from growing around your plants.
Step 6: Regular Watering
Water trees regularly but do not over-water. Arborvitae green giant is a drought-resistant plant, and it takes water about one month to penetrate the soil to the roots of the tree. The amount of time needed to water arborvitae depends on weather and soil conditions.
They do not need to be watered every day, but weekly watering is required in some circumstances. Although deep watering once a week will benefit the plant, leaving the leaves wet overnight can result in fungal growth that could cause damage or even kill the tree.
Step 7: Trimming
After several years, make sure to trim back Arborvitae green giant once in a while because overgrown plants are challenging to maintain. In addition, overgrown Arborvitae is more susceptible to disease or further damage from harsh weather conditions.
Although these trees do not require much pruning, cutting the outer branches will help expose the tree to sunlight which will help it grow fuller.
Step 8: Pruning
Trimming and pruning is essential to caring for an arborvitae green giant. Ensure to prune in late winter or early spring since this is the only time the plant’s sap is not flowing. Never remove more than one-third of a tree in any year because it can weaken or even kill the tree.
Once you have mastered arborvitae pruning, there are several different ways to shape these plants and make them more appealing in your yard.
Step 9: Prune Branches
Remove any lower branches growing downward and cut the tips of the components to create a narrow, pyramidal shape. This is probably the most common way to prune arborvitae green giant because it creates a dense canopy with clean lines and makes attractive hedges.
Step 10: Topping
Topping an arborvitae green giant is not recommended because it can damage or kill the plant. You should never cut more than one-third of the tree in any given year, and you should not allow lower branches to grow unless you plan to prune them later on. Topping weakens trees, so try to do as little pruning as possible to maintain the health of your Arborvitae.
Maintenance and Caring Tips for Arborvitae Green Giant:
1. Pruning –
Arborvitae Green Giant can be pruned in spring or fall to maintain its shape. If the plant becomes too wide, it may need rejuvenating. Cut off 1/3 of each stem in spring if the shrub is more than 6 ft tall, rather than rejuvenating it in autumn.
2. Feeding and Watering –
Feed the Arborvitae Green Giant with a balanced fertilizer in spring or early summer. Give it an occasional drink of water if rainfall is low.
3. Plant Protection –
A winter mulch helps protect Arborvitae Green Giant from frost heaving and desiccation, but remove it once all danger of frost has passed.
4. Overwintering –
Although arborvitae Green Giant is hardy in the USA and won’t undergo any frost damage during winters, it can be killed by sustained spells of severe cold. Protect plants by either planting them in a sheltered site or covering them with garden fleece when mid-winter frosts are forecast.
5. Weed Control –
Weed around arborvitae Green Giant regularly to prevent them from competing for nutrients, light, and moisture.
6. Pests and Diseases –
Arborvitae Green Giant can be affected by aphids, caterpillars, scale insects, mealy bugs, leaf spots and rusts. Treat any significant outbreaks of pests or diseases with a suitable pesticide.
8 Benefits for Planting Arborvitae Green Giant:
1. The Green Giant Arborvitae is very hardy and can grow in many different soil types. As long as the plant has good drainage, it should be fine.
2. The Green Giant Arborvitae does best when planted during the early spring or late fall months and will take full sun and partial shade and can also be planted near water.
3. The Green Giant Arborvitae should be watered in dry weather to help promote proper growth.
4. Proper pruning of your Green Giant Arborvitae will result in a complete, compact plant with dense foliage and sturdy branches for hanging plants or other decoratives objects from them.
5. As an evergreen, the Green Giant Arborvitae will provide year-round color to your landscape.
6. The Green Giant Arborvitae can be pruned throughout the year. However, it is best to prune in the springtime before new growth starts.
7. The Green Giant Arborvitae is deer resistant and typically does not attract pests or diseases.
8. You can plant your Green Giant Arborvitae in a container to provide an immediate impact of lush greenery to any outdoor space.
Conclusion:
Planting arborvitae green giants too close together can lead to overcrowding, which will decrease your plants’ health. If you are planting for a hedge or border, make sure that they are spaced at least two feet apart on all sides.
They should also be planted deep enough so that their roots have room to grow without being crowded by the surface roots of neighboring trees. To learn more about caring for this type of plant and how far it should be developed, read our blog post on how far apart it should be to plant Arborvitae green giant!
