What are the downsides of Green Giant Arborvitae?
Potential for overgrowth: Without regular pruning, these trees can grow rapidly and may become too large for the intended space. Limited wildlife value: While Thuja Green Giants provide dense foliage for privacy, they may offer less wildlife habitat compared to native trees. Thuja Green Giants require deep, irregular waterings of about 1 inch per week. Consider laying a 2–3 inch layer of mulch over the soil to help retain moisture and protect the roots from temperature fluctuations. Lifespan: On average, Thuja Green Giants live for up to 40 years in ideal growing conditions.If your Thuja ‘Green Giant’ is growing poorly, turning to reddish brown foliage, and seems to be dying, it could be root rot caused by soggy or saturated soil conditions. Let the soil line get a little dry between waterings. Water in the mornings so the soil has time to dry out during the day.Thuja Green Giant is evergreen with excellent year-round color. Tolerates a range of different soil conditions, heat, and humidity. This Arborvitae has dense growth habit that works well with casual or regular pruning. Grows very fast, making it great for privacy hedges.
What happens when you cut the top of a green giant arborvitae?
green giant arborvitae thujas are some of the favorite trees for power companies to plant around substations. Their height is very easy to manage by clipping out the main lead stem of the tree with a small clipper. Afterwards the tree in essence will stop growing in height and will get much bushier. Prune sparingly: arborvitae trees are slow-growing, so it’s essential to prune sparingly to avoid over-pruning. Focus on removing only dead or diseased branches and any branches crossing or rubbing against each other.Pruning is optional in arborvitae fall care. But when you do, we recommend pruning arborvitae lightly in very late winter or early spring. Pruning during the cooler fall or early winter seasons can promote new growth, which will be very tender and therefore more easily damaged by Northern Utah winter conditions.For example: if you have a 5-foot tall bush, we recommend you take 4-6 inches off of the top to encourage lateral growth. Arborvitaes are multi-stemmed, and as such, they are prone to damage from snow and ice. The “topping” method of pruning can help protect your trees.A common mistake when pruning arborvitae is to trim the sides perpendicularly and to use tapering only on the top of the plants. If you follow this pruning principle, the arborvitae hedge will have healthy, green growth down to ground level for as long as possible.
What is the difference between Thuja Green Giant and Green Giant Arborvitae?
Find the Right Tree for Your Garden: When you’re shopping for trees, it’s helpful to know that Thuja Green Giant and Green Giant Arborvitae are the same. You won’t be thrown off by a different name tag at the nursery. Potential for overgrowth: Without regular pruning, these trees can grow rapidly and may become too large for the intended space. Limited wildlife value: While Thuja Green Giants provide dense foliage for privacy, they may offer less wildlife habitat compared to native trees.For Property Boundaries or Near Fences: When planting Green Giants along property lines or near structures, aim to keep them 6–8 feet from fences or buildings. This distance helps prevent root issues and minimizes the risk of branches growing into or over structures, making it easier to manage over time.
Do deer eat arborvitae green giant?
If you live in an area with a heavy deer population, Green Giant Arborvitae is a great landscaping choice. The Green Giant was bred to have superior pest-resistant qualities, and thus, it isn’t a tree that deer will typically choose to eat. On the other hand, Emerald Green Arborvitaes are smaller and more compact, reaching heights of around 10 to 15 feet. They grow slower than Green Giants, at about 6 to 12 inches per year, but they maintain their vibrant, emerald-green color throughout the year.
How do I make my Green Giant Arborvitae grow faster?
Use Nitrogen-Rich Fertilizers in Spring and Early Summer Spring and early summer are ideal for fertilizing arborvitae, giving them a boost as they enter their active growing season. How to Grow an Arborvitae Tree: Arborvitaes are hardy trees that require little maintenance and grow well in part or full sun. They can be planted at any time of the year, except during summer drought conditions. Arborvitae trees prefer cooler climates and moist, alkaline soil, but can adapt to other soil types.New arborvitae trees need plenty of water to get established. Water them deeply 1-2 times per week when temps are below 70 degrees and then 2-3 times per week for the first growing season when temps are over 70 degrees. Make sure the soil stays moist but not soggy.Arborvitae should be fertilized in the early spring following soil test recommendations or with a high-nitrogen fertilizer such as a 20-15-15 or a 10-5-5. Apply one pound of fertilizer per 100 square feet of root area.Use NPK Fertilizer: Use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer that’s designed for trees and shrubs. Look for a fertilizer with an NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium) ratio like 10-10-10 or a similar balance. These nutrients are crucial for overall health, root development, and foliage growth.
What is the lifespan of a Green Giant Arborvitae?
In optimal growing conditions, Green Giant arborvitae can grow 3 to 4 feet per year! It has an average lifespan of 40-60 years. The largest Giant Arborvitae (Thuja plicata) is the Cheewhat Giant in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, while the tallest specimen is 195′ tall and located in Aberdeen, Washington. Green Giant’ has a low-branching, dense columnar-pyramidal habit. Dark green sprays of small, glossy, scale-like needles retain their deep green color through the winter. This tree can grow 3 to 4 feet per year in optimal conditions and reach a mature height of 40 to 60 feet and a width of 12 to 18 feet.