American Arborvitae Trees for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide

Planting and Care

by John Haryasz | Horticulture Writer and Landscape Designer – last update on September 16, 2022

Planting instructions

Plant your American Arborvitae Tree in a location that receives full sunlight, at least six hours of direct light per day. The best soil for this plant is moist, well-draining and somewhat acidic, but with that said, this species can adapt to many different types of soil just fine. To plant your American Arborvitae Tree, dig a hole that is as deep as the root ball is tall and at least twice as wide. Water while you backfill and cover the area with a two to three-inch layer of mulch when you finish.

Watering and nutrients

After planting your American Arborvitae Tree, you should water it weekly to help the roots establish themselves. After establishment, this tree will develop good drought tolerance, meaning that you may not need to offer supplemental water at all. However, some gardeners still choose to give this plant water when the first several inches of soil have dried out. Also, this tree can go without fertilizer but will exhibit the best growth when it receives a nitrogen-rich fertilizer once per year during early spring.

Pollination

You should not expect your American Arborvitae Tree to bloom with spectacular flowers each year, but that does not mean that this plant doesn’t bloom at all. Instead, the American Arborvitae Tree blooms with small inconspicuous flowers, including both male and female flowers on the same plant, which allows for self-pollination. Like other cone-bearing evergreen plant species, the American Arborvitae Tree spreads its pollen via the wind rather than relying on pollinator insects like many other plants.

Pruning

Many gardeners get by without pruning their American Arborvitae Tree at all. The reason for this is that this species takes on a neat and regular form without the need for any shaping. However, pruning once per year in early spring can foster good health in this plant. When pruning, the main goal is to remove any branches or foliage that are dead, damaged or diseased. After addressing those issues, you can perform some light shearing to the most external layers of foliage to enhance the plant’s overall shape.

Pests and diseases

It is possible for an American Arborvitae Tree to experience both pest and disease issues. Regarding pests, leaf miners and spider mites are some of the most common. On the disease side, the American Arborvitae Tree usually faces threats in the form of tip blight and root rot. The second of those issues is often the result of heavy soils that don’t allow for drainage or general overwatering. Along with those issues, your American Arborvitae Tree may also experience deer browsing.

Achieving maximum results

The American Arborvitae Tree is incredibly common in residential landscapes but can be surprisingly versatile as well. While it often serves as an excellent hedge plant or as a form of background greenery, the American Arborvitae can also stand out as a focal point as well. The combination of its neat form and its lovely foliage can make an attractive impression. Also, you should be wary of pruning too much as it does not sprout from old wood and pruning too far back could result in permanent bare patches.

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