Forever Goldy Arborvitae Tree for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide

Planting and Care

by Mary Van Keuren | Gardener (30+ Years Experience) – last update on August 16, 2022

Planting instructions

Choose a site for your arborvitae that is sheltered from prevailing winds, if possible, in soil that drains well. In the southern end of its range, it will appreciate light shade in the afternoon. Unpot your sapling, teasing out any encircling roots, which can girdle the tree and slowly kill it. Dig a hole that’s as deep as the root ball and twice as wide. Place the plant in the hole and, while holding it upright and steady, fill in around it with topsoil, tamping down as you go to eliminate air pockets. Water thoroughly. Apply a 2- to 3-inch layer of organic mulch, such as bark chips, around the root zone, but don’t let it touch the trunk, which can encourage rot.

Watering and nutrients

When newly planted, water your forever goldy arborvitae a few times a week. Once you see new growth appearing, cut back to once a week, giving it an inch of water each time. A mature plant can handle minor droughts but will be happier if it receives supplemental water during very hot or dry weather. Fertilize your arborvitae in early spring, using a balanced, slow-release product that is designed for evergreens.

Pollination

As a conifer, the forever goldy arborvitae does not have flowers to aid in reproduction. The work of creating seeds is carried out by small male and female cones that produce pollen and seeds.

Pruning

This arborvitae needs little pruning — just monitor the tree for broken, diseased, or damaged limbs, and trim these out whenever you see them. If you wish to create a more formal shape than the tree’s natural pyramidal form, you can prune new growth lightly to create a more clipped hedge shape.

Pests and diseases

The forever goldy arborvitae is a resilient tree that isn’t prone to disease or insect pressure. Taking good care of your tree will help it to fend off any infestations. If you see any sign of bark beetles, prune out infected branches immediately. These small beetles are about the size of a grain of rice and feed on branches. Canker diseases, which are fungal in nature, are sometimes seen on Thuja cultivars. Once again, the best defense is to prune out diseased wood, which usually spreads from the lower branches to the upper, and is characterized by dropped needles and branch dieback.

Achieving maximum results

An additional benefit to these small trees is that they grow beautifully in containers, where they will achieve maximum growth of roughly 4 to 8 feet, depending on the size of the pot. Imagine a matched pair of two forever goldy trees in terra cotta pots flanking a front doorway or gracing a back patio. If you choose to grow your arborvitae in a container, be sure to choose one that has good drainage in the bottom, and which is about twice the size of the root ball. Container-grown plants need more supplemental watering than those grown in the grown, as well as regular feeding. Be especially diligent if your pot-grown trees are under an overhang, where they won’t have access to rain.