When choosing the right type of cedar tree to plantin your yard the first consideration is…Why am I planting this hedge and what are thesite conditions in the planting area to be hedgedhow much sun is available and what are the soiland drainage like.Are you planting for noisereduction and privacy or purely esthetic reasons A cedar hedge is a long term investment in youryard and becomes a valuable landscape featurewhen it matures. After deciding on the type ofcedar you want make sure they are properlyplanted in well drained soil with bone meal.The hedge should be watered with a soaker hosethe first summer untill the roots are established. Thuja plicata (Wester Red Cedar) is a fast-growing conifer hedge.It forms a dense evergreen hedge of any height and size if it is trimmed regularly. Thuja foliage has a pleasant, apple aroma when crushed. Can be cut back into old wood and will re-shoot. In a cold winter the foliage turns a bronze colour.Any free-draining soil in sun or partial shade.Rate of growth: up to 75cm (2’6″) per yeaFrom the Western Red Cedar family, the ExcelsaCedar is a tall and wide growing cedar. It can reach heights of over 30 feet in the long runand can grow as wide as 10-15 feet. It is a moderateto fast growing tree (2-3’ per year) that maintains a steady pyramid shape.It is a great tree (‘two story’ privacy tree) alternative to smaller, slower growing white cedars if a privacy hedge is desired in less time. It acts as a great windbreak and is deer resistant. It is suitable in urban, rural and semi-rural environments.The Excelsa Cedar has a rich, dark evergreen foliage that may turn slightly golden in Winter do to the cold. It grows well in all soil types and prefers moist climates.The Excelsa Cedar is hearty in zones 5-8.Other Names: Thuja Plicata, Western Red Cedar, Aborvitae Excelsa PRO GROWS WELL IN PARTIAL SHADE FAST GROWING / GOOD FOR NOISE BARRIER AND WINDBREAK DISEASE RESISTANT CON: REQUIRES MORE TRIMMING also called ‘Smaragd’ This is my choice for most of the plantings I do because of its lower maintenance requirements and dark green foliage. This hedge will tolerate partial shade and doesn’t grow as wide as the Western Red. Make sure you don’t plant trees too closely together (1.5 to 2 ft ) spacing’s between tree centres for 5’ft to 6 ft specimens ‘Smaragd’ is the ultimate low-maintenance hedging plant. Planted in a row, the top can be trimmed to the height required but the sides of the trees will never need trimming. Thuja ‘Emerald’ is evergreen and forms a neat screen of dense dark green foliage. It is very hardy and wind tolerant. It is not used very often in the UK as a screen but is commonly used in the USA where temperature extremes are much greater than here. Any free draining soil in sun or partial shade. Rate of growth: up to 45cm (18 inches) per year.The emerald green arborvitae, also known as an eastern white cedar, is an evergreen tree characterized by its dark green foliage. The cedar grows in just about any soil they are planted in and grow well in areas that are subject to high atmospheric moisture. They grow best in full sun.They are most commonly used to create privacy screens and noise barriers due to their tendency to grow thick/dense. Emerald Cedars are very low maintenance tree that require pruning only once per year.At maturity the Emerald Cedar can reach heights above 20 feet growing at a typical rate of roughly one vertical foot and 4-6” of horizontal width per year. They usually grow in a pyramid shape The emerald Cedar is hearty in zones 3-7.Other Names: Smaragd, Emerald green arborvitae, Thuja occidentalis ‘smaragd’. PRO: LOW MAINTENANCECON: MORE EXPENSIVE THAN OTHER VARIETALS NOT AS DISEASE RESISTANT AS OTHER VARIETALS The Pyramidalis cedar is a multi-stemmed columnar white cedar that grows tall and lean to a maximum height of around 20 feet and a maximum horizontal spread of 7-8’. It has a shallower green colour foliage than the Emerald cedar and stays evergreen all year long. It prunes well and is a relatively low maintenance cedar.Like the Emerald, the Pyramidalis cedar prefers full sun and average levels of atmospheric moisture. It is not very picky in terms of soil type or pH level it grows in and is quite tolerant of urban pollution making it a great privacy cedar tree along busy streets.The Pyramidalis Cedar is hearty in zones 3-PRO: GROWS WELL ALONG DRIVEWAYS AND ROADS LIGHTER GREEN COLORS SETS THEM APART FROM OTHER CEDARS CAN MAKE AN INTERESTING SPECIMEN HEDGE WHERE NOISE AND PRIVACY IS NOT AN ISSUECON: REQUIRES MORE LIGHT THAN OTHER VARIETALS TO MAINTAIN EVEN FOILAGE BECAUSE OF MULTIPLE STEMS IS MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO SNOW DAMAGE
