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The Lowdown on the Thuja Green Giant

As you might imagine, the thuja green giant isn’t a diminutive tree – it can grow very rapidly to reach 40 feet in height and this growth rate makes it perfect for hedges and privacy screens. The thuja green giant isn’t just functional, though, it’s also beautiful.

The history

Thuja green giants are also known as arborvitae – the tree of life. This tree, which is native to East Asia and North America has sap and oils that are often collected and used in aromatherapy.

The thuja green giant is a cross between the Standishii (Japan) and the Plicata (America) varieties and it was introduced to the US National Arboretum in 1967. The green giant has a pyramid shape and strong resistance to cold, disease and pests.

Uses

The thuja green giant thrives in zones 5-9 and can withstand temperatures as low as -20C. It also makes a great snow barrier, with its strong branches. It also makes a good wind barrier, protecting smaller shrubs and trees, as well as protecting homes from cold gusts.

The fast growing rate of the thuja green giant makes it ideal for privacy screens. The tree can grow up to five feet in a year, so noisy roads and neighbours will soon be blocked out. They take well to pruning, though, just in case 40 feet is a bit over the top.

Often planted as part of a mixed row, the thuja also holds its own on its own. Its pyramid shape and mixture of light and dark foliage draw the eye and provide an attractive backdrop to smaller trees and flower beds.

Caring for your thuja

Thuja trees are low maintenance – simply choose a site that gets full sunlight, although partial sunlight will still be OK. They’re adaptable to lots of different soils – sandy, heavy, clay, alkaline or acidic will be just fine, although they perform best when it’s slightly acidic.

They don’t like waterlogged soil, so keep it moist rather than damp. Thuja green giants do need regular watering in summer – three times a month over the summer and twice a month over the winter. You can help to retain moisture by applying a three-inch layer of mulch around the bottom of the tree.

If your thuja’s needles start to turn yellow or brown, they’re suffering from drought. Over watering can also cause problems, like drooping branches and discoloration.

Although they don’t need much fertilizer, they could stand a dose of 10-10-10 or 14-14-14 once or twice a year. If you do fertilize, apply it in the spring after the last frost, or at the start of fall.

Shaping

Thujas don’t need pruning because they just grow (and grow). If you want wider growth, then you can prune back the central trunk by about a third and then cut them into the shape you need. They can be trained into a flat-top hedge, as long as the top is at least six inches wide, but their rapid growth means you’ll need to keep up with it.

Article in association with Treecenter.

 

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