| Plant File 113 | | | | windy locations. Close between two tall buildings can |
| What a great bumper sticker slogan we could make | | | | be windy, as Marilyn Monroe proved in the movies |
| from this very true statement, "Arborvitae are for | | | | decades ago. |
| downtown!" Indeed, arborvitae are evergreen shrubs | | | | Smaragd means "emerald" in Denmark, where the |
| and trees especially well suited for urban areas where | | | | Emerald Green Arb was developed. Smaragd Arbs, |
| low maintenance and durability are needed most. | | | | Smaragdine Arbs, Emerald Cedars, and Emerald Green |
| A great many cultivars of arborvitae are available. | | | | Arbs are all one in the same, not to worry, we just |
| There are forms such as ball-like globed shapes as | | | | use the descriptive English name Emerald Green... |
| little as a foot high, tall thin columnar shapes and | | | | The texture of the Emerald Green reddish brown |
| narrow pyramidal shapes with heights ranging all the | | | | bark is quite fine, cinnamon red when the tree is |
| way up to 100 feet. Aren't some of these ideal | | | | young, covering what will become a strong softwood |
| descriptions of plants for alongside buildings, near | | | | when the tree is mature. The Emerald Green |
| sidewalks and streets, and beautifying entrance | | | | Arborvitae has a conical form narrow to broadly |
| doorways and terraces, "decorating with year 'round | | | | pyramidal (your choice) reaching heights from 12 to |
| greenery?" The smaller arborvitae can even be | | | | at most 20 feet where it's exceedingly sunny with |
| grown in containers like barrels and pots, placed | | | | widths only about 3 to 6 feet. As a conifer tree, the |
| where they add beauty, having the added advantage | | | | Emerald Green's flowers/fruit are pretty half-inch |
| that they can be moved. The forms of arborvitae | | | | erect cones, worth collecting too. Mature Emerald |
| which are usually found in the medium sizes are | | | | Green Arborvitae cast dense shade. If bagworms |
| useful for planting in rows so when they are mature | | | | and salt spray are kept off this tree it should outlive |
| they will create sun and wind blocking privacy | | | | even your great grandchildren's great grandchildren. |
| screens or "buffers." Doesn't a line of tall, thin | | | | Seriously, these trees live for hundreds of years. |
| evergreen trees give benefits far beyond using a | | | | The Hetz Midget Arborvita is a dwarf globe variety, |
| rusting chain link fence to mark off property | | | | at the other end of the size spectrum from the |
| boundaries, or block off what's unsightly? Just think | | | | Emerald Green. This is a good choice along walkways |
| about how, on a blustery winter's day, a line of | | | | as well as in gardens, on terraces, even for |
| mature arborvitae can cut down the effects of the | | | | windowsills. It's a tough plant that's easy to "install," |
| gusts of wind on us as we walk by, and on a blazing | | | | and easy to pay for with its low cost. The li'l Hetz |
| hot summer's day, the effects of the sun can be cut | | | | Midget will maintain a nice green color throughout the |
| down as we walk by in shade. | | | | winter and handles snow piling on top of it too. We |
| Why are arborvitae considered so durable and "low | | | | carry these plants in 2 and 3 gallon pots. Prices range |
| maintenance" for urban usage? Well, most arborvitae | | | | from about 15 to 30 dollars depending on the plant |
| only require at least partial sun to grow, though they | | | | size and the quantity ordered. |
| will thrive in full size sun. That's pretty good for a | | | | The Rheingold Arborvita is another small globe |
| start, right? A mere 3 hours per day of direct sunlight | | | | shaped variety which is a little larger than the Hetz |
| is necessary even for the non-demanding arborvitae | | | | Midget. It has a bronze winter color and a golden |
| and that's not much. If your downtown site is | | | | green cast to it in summer. It's "purty fer shure." |
| surrounded by tall walls very close, arborvitae can't | | | | "Tiny Tim" is an American Arborvita that grows in |
| be used. Dense shade conditions do have to be | | | | hardiness zones 2 through 7, where minimum |
| avoided. No plant can grow in total shadow anyway. | | | | wintertime temperatures can go from 10 degrees to |
| As for the soil, though moist, well drained, silghlt acidic | | | | as low as 50 degrees below zero. Minus 50 degrees, |
| loam is best, healthy arborvitae can grow well in | | | | Brrrr. In zone 7, summertime high temperature can |
| rocky clay. Low maintenance and durable arborvitae | | | | reach over 100 degrees. This little Juniper ground |
| are known for being drought resistant and insect, | | | | cover plant of the Cupressacae Family will grow from |
| pest and disease resistant too. How about that? | | | | just a half a foot to a foot tall and spread as much |
| Bagworms are the single worst problem for "arbs," | | | | as a foot and a half wide. (Just who was Tiny Tim? |
| capable of completely defoliating every last needle | | | | He was a popular entertainer/singer right about the |
| leaf on the plant they infest. Yet, as bagworms don't | | | | same time Petula Clark was singing "Downtown" in |
| travel downtown quite so often as commuters do, | | | | the 1960's. How appropriate here for an American |
| usually bagworms are found out in the countryside, | | | | Arborvita.) |
| it's "no problem." Very few deer make it downtown | | | | Now, when you go to buy your arborvitae, pick out |
| too, so the fact that many arborvitae cultivars are | | | | the healthiest, most robust plants that have no |
| deer food is again "no problem," again arborvitae are | | | | evidence of disease or insect damage. Of course, |
| ideal for downtown. | | | | you're thinking, but more than that, the potting |
| Now, also make note, some cultivars of arborvitae | | | | medium should also be thoroughly inspected. Most of |
| may require a little bit of pruning. There may be | | | | us don't ordinarily remember to do that. The potting |
| multiple leaders which can prove to be a detraction | | | | medium should be moist, a rich, dark, loose, "loamy" |
| for the plant in confined spaces. Just one occasional | | | | soil. Look for roots that are growing from the |
| cut where you see multiple leaders will be all that is | | | | drainage holes or circling the top of the pot or burlap |
| required, a simple remedy. And, one other "issue" to | | | | ball and avoid those plants. |
| mention is salt spray. Excessive salt spray is not good | | | | Many people choose to buy "arbs" from a mail order |
| for any landscape plant, yet some species of | | | | company. This is perfectly acceptable. However, |
| arborvitae are "hypersensitive." When actual rock salt | | | | please realize that most woody plants purchased |
| is used as "snow-melt," the briny water doesn't help | | | | from mail order catalogs will be shipped "dormant and |
| any plant's leaves or roots, but for arborvitae, this is | | | | bare-rooted," that is, without any soil attached to the |
| their "Achilles' Heel." If your downtown site is very | | | | root system. Such plants may be smaller in size |
| close to the curb on a street where salt is regularly | | | | because of the expense of shipping. It is important |
| used, and there's a great deal of snowfall every | | | | to get such plant material immediately into soil upon |
| year, you simply cannot use arborvitae to "decorate | | | | arrival. Generally, it is best to purchase one-year-old |
| with greenery." Sorry. It is, in fact, difficult to suggest | | | | material from mail order companies since this plant |
| what would be a good choice for planting on a busy | | | | material is more vigorous and will transplant better. Be |
| street in a place like downtown Buffalo, New York, | | | | advised, the larger plants which are offered often |
| which averages about 200 inches of snow in its long | | | | comprise the less vigorous plants held over from |
| winters. | | | | previous years to get bigger and stronger. Most large |
| At Highland Hill Farm our most popular arborvitae for | | | | sized arbs are balled and burlapped. Don't buy any |
| downtown is the Emerald Green. By the way, many | | | | arbs more than 3 feet tall that are bare-rooted. Any |
| people prefer to spell the name arbor vitae, because | | | | plant larger than 3 feet tall should be balled and |
| the name is from Latin, "the tree" (arbor) "of life" | | | | burlapped (that's measuring from the top down to |
| (vita) (vitae when there's more than one). Ohhh... | | | | the uppermost root, not the ground). |
| The hardiness zones for arborvitae are given as low | | | | Our main farm, the Highland Hill Farm, is located in a |
| as 2 and as high as 8, where minimum wintertime | | | | solid clay soil in southeastern Pennsylvania close to |
| temperatures get as low as 50 degrees below zero | | | | Doylestown, in the center of Bucks County. We like |
| to relatively mild 20 degrees above. That's -50 to | | | | plants that grow well in clay. All arborvita grow well |
| +20 on the Fahrenheit thermometer on the coldest | | | | enough here, we raise over 15 diferent varieties for |
| winter night in a particular locality. | | | | sale, but the Emerald Green Thuja Occidentalis |
| The Emerald Green Arb is a slow steady grower, | | | | Cultivar, this is our favorite. |
| commensurate with downtown conditions, adding at | | | | When you stop in to our nursery we would like to |
| most a foot of height each year. Like other | | | | show you our many variations of arborvitae. We'll |
| arborvitae, not much water, not much sun, and most | | | | take you into the fields and show you the plants. |
| any soil are the non-demanding site requirements. | | | | There are lots and lots of plants to see so don't |
| You can plant Emerald Greens as close as 3 feet | | | | expect to see them all in 10 minutes. If you call in |
| apart, 4 feet from any walls. When young, protection | | | | advance it is appreciated so we can set aside time |
| from wind is a requirement, but using a stake or two | | | | especially for you. If you are coming from a long |
| adds all the support that's necessary for exceptionally | | | | distance let's make your drive truly worthwhile. |