How Fast Do Emerald Green Arborvitae Grow?

How fast do emerald green arborvitae grow

Famed for their gleaming emerald green foliage, Emerald Green Arborvitae are evergreens. “Arborvitae” comes from the French word, l’arbre de vie, meaning the tree of life.

It is one of the most prevalent kinds of Arborvitae in the Northwest. They have a classic narrow, pyramidal form, and are resilient, hardy trees that can overcome extreme temperatures, tolerate drought, and resist insects.

Emerald Green Arborvitae is an excellent foundation plant. The plant stays flamboyant in all seasons and gives a pleasant aroma when you squeeze the needles. This forgiving beauty can thrive with little to almost no supervision.

Is Emerald Green Arborvitae Easy To Grow?

USDA hardiness zone implies the suitable regions where the plant can grow and thrive, sans any difficulty. There are 11 hardiness regions, and Emerald Green Arborvitae grows in USDA hardiness zones 2 through 8.

Hence, the plant can survive the cold weather much better than most other evergreen plants. But, the plant may experience some trouble on the West Coast, along the Florida and Deep South regions.

When planted in suitable weather conditions and exposed to the right growing conditions, you will see them thrive. The plant is forgiving and can survive almost all situations. So, yes, they are easy to grow and care for.

How Fast Does Emerald Green Arborvitae Grow?

How fast do thuja emerald green grow – The emerald arborvitae growth rate is relatively slow. You will note that its growth rate is typically about six to nine inches or a foot or two per year.

While they are initially getting established, the emerald green arborvitae growth rate per year is about 12-18 inches. The plant takes about a decade or longer to mature.

After establishment, how fast do emerald green arborvitae grow? The growth rate further slows down then, and they grow only six to nine feet a year.

Please remember the emerald green growth rate mentioned here is a general average. But, how quick it grows depends on the conditions you expose the plant to.

The growth may be stunted if the plant does not get the desired sunlight and water. In addition, even though the plants are durable and disease resistant, they can intervene with emerald arborvitae growth rate. While in some cases, they slow down the pace, in others, they make the plant grow faster.

Factors Affecting Their Growth – How Can I Make My Thuja Grow Faster?

Several factors determine the emerald green arborvitae growth rate per year. Below, we will discuss them one by one.

1. Planting

You will be astonished to see how fast do emerald green arborvitae grow if you plant them at the right time, in the right growing conditions, and in the proper soil.

So, what is the best time to grow it for exponential emerald arborvitae growth rate? Keep reading to know.

You can plant Emerald Green Arborvitae all around the year. But, ideally, you must grow your Emerald Green Arborvitae in the fall. During this time, the plant experiences minimum heat stress. Hence, there is zero struggle to grow.

But, how fast do thuja emerald green grow if you do not plant it in the right season? Naturally, you will see a slow-down in the emerald green growth rate if you sow in any season except fall.

Summers are the worst to plant emerald greens. Even though the soil is heat and drought tolerant, the Emerald Green Arborvitae would not germinate in the dry summer soil.

Further, when planting, inspect the area thoroughly. It must be free from debris, turfgrass, and weeds. Next, use a spade and loosen the soil. You need to dig a hole twice the root ball’s width, but it should not be denser than its height.

Now, get the root ball out and gently tease it apart to immerse it in the hole. It must be placed higher than the surrounding soil. Once done, fill in the gap.

2. Pick the right plant

You must know that there are several kinds of Arborvitae. They are solid, durable plants, but some species of Arborvitae grow better in certain climates than others. So, depending upon where you live and the kind of soil you have, you can pick the Arborvitae type.

3. Sunlight

How fast do emerald green arborvitae grow if planted in the right lighting conditions? The emerald arborvitae growth rate is the best when you plant it in a spot that receives full sun or partial shade.

The plant loves the sun and requires at least six hours of sun every day. However, please do not put the plant in a spot that receives direct sunlight.

It can burn the foliage and stunt the emerald green growth rate. Alternatively, excessive shade is also not suitable for the plant as it will lower the foliage growth.

4. Water

While young, you may have to water the plant at least two times every week. After this, you need to cut down the plant’s watering and limit it to just once a week. In the winters, the plant needs water only once in 14 days.

5. Soil

Emerald Green Arborvitae thrives in well-drained, moist soil with alkaline to neutral pH levels. They may undergo root rotting in soggy soil. If the soil does not have a proper drainage system, you can add a decent layer of mulch or compost. It can help the soil retain moisture and prevent root rotting.

6. Temperature

Emerald Green Arborvitae grow better in cool and dry conditions. When the humidity is high, the plant is prone to fungal diseases. Once the plant matures, they become cold-hardy and are drought-resistant. Hence, they can withstand ice and snow.

7. Spacing

Ideally, you must leave at least three to four feet of space between the two Emerald Green Arborvitae for them to thrive to their full ability.

8. Feeding

Typically, Emerald Green Arborvitae do not demand a lot of fertilizer. But if your plant depicts slower than usual growth, and you want to stimulate Emerald green arborvitae growth rate per year, you may have to feed the plant. Reach out to a balanced fertilizer that has all the necessary nutrients.

9. Pruning

There is one golden rule of pruning – You only prune the new growth.

With the progression of time, as you see its growth rate, you may find that the plant may not always grow as you would want it to. So, to maintain the plant’s visual appeal, you can consider shaping and trimming it. Annual pruning works best for keeping the plant’s beauty intact.

However, as you prune the plant, please be very cautious. You can hamper the emerald arborvitae growth rate if you cut into the old-growth or chop the top of the plant while shaping. Unfortunately, improper pruning might permanently damage the emerald green growth rate.

How Far Apart Do You Plant Emerald Green Arborvitae?

Typically, there are two methods to decide the spacing between Emerald Green Arborvitae – Staggered and Single Row. The former gives instant coverage but demands a deeper planning bed. You may see gaps between the two plants if you view them from the front.

On the other hand, the latter will need a relatively smaller planting bed. They take longer to offer fuller coverage because of the gaps. If you intend to make a natural windbreak or a privacy screen, you should keep at least three to four feet of space between the two plants.

When there is ample spacing, the tidy clusters of trees will appear pyramidal and narrow. It can help with the emerald arborvitae growth rate, and the plant would not demand frequent trimming.

What Is The Difference Between Green Giant And Emerald Green Arborvitae?

There are several differences between a Green Giant and Emerald Green Arborvitae. Below, we will enlist a few points of difference:

Green Giant has a massive growing height. They grow to about 20-40 feet tall and about 12 to 20 feet wide. Emerald Green Arborvitae grow between 8 and 12 feet in height. Their spread is also tiny at only 3 to 4 feet.
Green Giants are best when you have a broader space to fill in, but Emerald Green Arborvitae are suitable for compact landscapes.
Green Giants can withstand the ice and snow, but the Emerald Greens cannot handle the snow and ice to the same extent.
Green Giants are suitable for growing zones five through nine, and Emerald Green Arborvitae grow best in growing zones three through eight. The former can survive temperature freezing down to 20, but the latter can survive a temperature drop to only 40 degrees.

Green Giants have dark, dense, green foliage. They are large and have a wide base with a narrow top. Emerald Green Thujas have a brighter green glow, which gives them a natural sheen in the sunlight. They have a columnar shape.

FAQs On How Fast Do Emerald Green Arborvitae Grow

Ques 1. How big do green arborvitae get?

Ans. Upon maturity, the Emerald Green Arborvitae grows to fifty to sixty feet. They have a vast spread, usually between twelve to twenty feet.

Ques 2. Can emerald green arborvitae be trimmed?

Ans. The Emerald Green Arborvitae do not like regular pruning. But, if you want to maintain the plant’s visual appeal, you can trim them once a year. However, please prune only the new growth, and be very gentle while doing so.

Ques 3. Why is my emerald green arborvitae turning brown?

Ans. There can be multiple reasons which might cause the Emerald Green Arborvitae foliage to turn brown. Below, we will enlist a few primary reasons:

Underwatering
Exposing the plant to prolonged periods of cold weather
Exposure to direct sun
High-density wind
Dry soil

Ques 4. How long does it take for Emerald Green arborvitae to mature?

Ans. Emerald Green Arborvitae are slow-growing evergreen plants. They grow a foot or two per year. Once established, they grow six to nine inches per year.

They have a 10-15 feet mature height, and it takes them a maximum of fifteen years to acquire that height. They have a base spread of about three to four feet at maturity.

Ques 5. How many inches per year does arborvitae grow?

Ans. Barring a couple of varities, the green arborvitae growth rate is incredibly slow for most. Typically, they grow only a maximum of 12 inches annually.

Ques 7. Which arborvitae grow the fastest?

Ans. Green Giant is the fastest-growing arborvitae. They are widely used for privacy and grow about three to four feet in a year in humid southeast conditions.

Conclusion

How quickly do emerald green arborvitae grow? We believe that you are now thorough about the emerald green growth rate. Even though these are not the fastest-growing evergreens, they are low-maintenance and add so much beauty wherever planted.

Depending on where you plant them, they can be perfect for accents, privacy screens, and a foundation plant.

After reading our ‘how fast do evergreen arborvitae grow’ guide, you must have answers to all your common questions as well.