thuja occidentalisHow fast do Arborvitae grow? When conditions are favorable, the average arborvitae growth rate is incredible at one to two feet each year.

Green Arborvitae is a beautiful plant that is fascinating to find because it is difficult to find the proper one.

It can be really frustrating to find the ideal home plant, but at least with house plants, you can quickly replace them.

The Emerald Green Arborvitae, which is famed for its capacity to tolerate practically everything, is a perfect choice for that, keep reading to find out how fast they grow and even more.

How Fast Do Arborvitae Grow?

Each year, this Emerald Arborvitae matures to one to two feet, if it is given the ideal weather in which it will thrive. While the environment does not alter significantly, the amount of water a tree receives can affect its development pace.

These trees are hardy, deer resistant, and won’t die in sub-optimal climates, however, they grow at different rates. Every year, the Green Giant grows a few feet, occasionally up to five feet in a single year.

Landscaping arborvitae can grow anywhere between two and 70 feet tall, depending on the species. Their spread can range from 1.5 to 20 feet for this extensive height range. The following arborvitae species make up this growth span:

  • American or Eastern
  • Giant
  • Korean
  • Japanese
  • Sichuan
  • Golden Globe
  • Danica

Green Giant Arborvitae

Like the Emerald Thuja Arborvitae, the Green Giant is a Thuja green giant tree, although they do seem relatively similar when they’re young. However, the Giant Greeb Arborvitae grows faster at two times than that of the Emerald Thuja, in addition to having twice the mass.

This growing evergreen is in the same family, so if you like the emerald green thuja tree but want something more prominent, faster, and larger growing, then the Green Giant is the way to go.

Why Plant Arborvitae

In terms of trees, the Arborvitae has a lot going for it. The tree is low-maintenance and requires little to no care. It’s also green all year and quite resistant to weather fluctuations.

It’s also resistant to various illnesses and insects that ordinarily kill other plants.

What exactly is it bad for? Perhaps extra-large yards would be too much for a 10-15-foot tree to handle. Aside from that, if you like how it looks, you can use it.

Green Arborvitae Spacing

The Emerald Green Arborvitae requires enough space to grow, but not so much that the “wall” is no longer visible. Planting Emerald Green Arborvitae trees five to six feet apart is good, having in mind that it grows nearly 12 inches a year, which is almost one foot!

Because Green Giant Arborvitae can grow up to twenty feet wide, planting them between 10-15 feet is a better alternative. On the other hand, Emerald Greens only grow a few feet wide; thus, six feet is enough room for both trees to touch.

 

How To Thrive Your Arborvitae 

It’s not difficult to look after your Arborvitae. Most individuals will plant the trees and then forget about them, especially if their area gets much rain. However, it is understandable if you want the best for your tree, especially if you want it to thrive. It’s fantastic to be able to leave a plant without thinking about it! 

– Water Requirements

You’ll need to water the Arborvitae twice a week when it’s a baby. However, this is common for any tree. You may water it once a week after that. Some people, on the other hand, never water their Emerald Greens.

This is okay if the leaves do not turn brown from overwatering or the tree does not develop root rot. So stay on the lookout for these two things, and you should be fine.

– Soil Requirements

Apart from having their bed of soil in general, these trees only worry about one thing when it comes to earth. That is the pH scale. They can survive in a range of pH levels; however, they have a preferred range.

pH levels between 6 to 8 are ideal for most Thujas. You can go lower or higher, but you might have a problem if you go too far in one direction or the other. This, however, is a rare occurrence.

– Fertilizer Requirements

The Arborvitae do not require fertilizer to grow if you despise feeding trees. This isn’t to say you shouldn’t feed it; it means you don’t have to, it will fend for itself and grow tall.

If you want to feed it, you can use a simple fertilizer. The thuja will benefit from anything that works for small to medium-sized evergreen trees. It does not have any food preferences. It doesn’t need to eat, after all!

– Sunshine Requirements

Arborvitae thrives in full sun or partial shade, nonetheless, the only thing they can’t do is grow in direct sunlight all day. It is important to note that they are not indoor trees and require half-day exposure to sunlight.

It’s wise to time the region’s amount of sunlight each day while planting your tree. Go for a week before planting your tree to figure out how much sun the area receives on average, the reason why is to see your Arborvitae grow and get the right amount of sun.

– Climate Requirements

Humidity is not a friend of Arborvitae. Though the tree can still grow, if the climate is too humid, the tree may develop a fungus that will impact the appearance and lifespan of the Arborvitae, which will damage its ideal yearly growth rate.

However, this is primarily a concern while the tree is young, so planting it in the fall is recommended because they thrive in cold conditions, even when temperatures are 40 degrees below zero.

– Pruning Requirements

Pruning is not required for Arborvitae. You can, however, trim them in the spring to give them a thicker, more lush, and healthy coat. The only pruning you need to do is to remove sick branches, no matter what.

This protects the remainder of the tree from infection by the branches. However, this is unusual. Otherwise, aside from personal preference, you shouldn’t have to worry about pruning because that is all there is.

Thuja occidentalis American Arborvitae

FAQ

How fast can Arborvitae grow in the first year?

Arborvitae can grow up to 12 inches or more in the first year, depending on factors like species and growing conditions.

How far apart do you plant Arborvitae for fast growth?

For fast growth, plant Arborvitae trees 4 to 6 feet apart, allowing enough space for proper air circulation and future growth.

Does trimming Arborvitae encourage fast growth?

Trimming Arborvitae promotes denser foliage and can enhance overall growth, but it’s important to avoid excessive pruning that may hinder healthy development.

Conclusion

There are different varieties of Arborvitae that grow at different rates, however, here’s what we covered in the article:

  • The Emerald Green Thuja grows one to two feet per year.
  • The Giant Green Variety of Arborvitae can grow twice as fast as Emerald Greens.
  • Spacing your Arborvitae correctly helps ensure they can succeed at standard rates with no restrictions.
  • Arborvitae are famously used as privacy shields because of their height and incredible growth rate.

With all this knowledge in hand, it’s time for you to start planting these breathtaking and majestic trees to elevate your lawns.

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