American arborvitae: Thuja occidentalis, in the limelight

Our InstantHedge blog is brimming with advice on maintaining healthy hedges. In today's blog, we'll talk about thuja occidentalis, an American arborvitae hedge.

An American Arborvitae hedge, scientifically known as thuja occidentalis, remains dark green all year and retains its feathery needles throughout the winter. The narrow conical shape and dense foliage combine to form a strong and visually appealing hedge.

Except for the southern parts of Florida, Louisiana, Texas, California, Arizona, and Nevada, this tree grows in most of the United States. Its tolerance to all soil types makes it resilient even in urban environments. Depending on the environment and available sunlight, this evergreen can grow up to 20-40 feet tall and 10-15 feet wide.

The Arborvitae is a winner in everyone's backyard since it grows well in full sun to part shade and is regarded as a low-maintenance plant.

GARDENING TIPS FOR USING AMERICAN ARBORVITAE

Do you dislike the view next door?

Because it is an evergreen and grows to greater heights than most, it can be used as a privacy screen on your property. Arborvitae as a living screen is always an option. Without adequate plantings to soften the scape, even fences can appear obtrusive and stark at times. This evergreen can help to provide a privacy hedge while creating an effective boundary that's lush and provides a beautiful backdrop to more plantings in the garden.

Beauty to your backyard

They are used in formal gardens to create a privacy hedge and to lead the visitor along a pathway with lushness on both sides. You can grow this landscape spotlight as a wall and create seating areas next to it with container gardens flanking each side of the bench if you use this as residential inspiration. Other uses include a poolside hedge or a screen for a private garden boundary, which is a great alternative to a brick wall. Their grandeur and foliage also serve as a sound barrier in urban areas, providing respite.

Let's take an example of an American Arborvitae Hedge (White Cedar) to understand in detail:

White cedar thuja occidentalis, also known as American arborvitae, is a small, slow- to medium-growing evergreen conifer. It is a native of the eastern half of North America, from Manitoba to North Carolina, and is frequently planted as a tree or shrub, depending on the variety.

Its natural habitat includes bogs, ravines, and other places with high soil moisture and humidity levels, making them ideal for Minnesota's recent greater rainfall levels.

White Cedar grows best in the following conditions:

Arborvitae prefers well-drained loam soil and can withstand a wide range of acidic or alkaline conditions. Once established, it can withstand heat and drought, but it is vulnerable to wind and heavy snow. It thrives in broad light, but in more shaded areas, it can become sparse and thin out.

• Zones 3 to 7 of hardiness; are not suitable for hotter temperatures.

• Performing well in direct sunlight, scarce in partial shade

• accepts momentary floods

• once planted, tolerates slight drought

• Wind and/or heavy snow damage prone

• Some species develop winter burns.

Soil recommendation:

• Soil pH: tolerant of 5.0 to 8.0, best in 6.8 to 7.2 loam soils

• can tolerate limestone

• moist and well-drained

As American Arborvitae hedge makes a great privacy screen when grown in a tight row. And requires little maintenance as well.