snow on arborvitae

14 years ago

I'm new to GW and haven't been to this forum before but I'm hoping someone can provide advice. We've had a heavy snowfall and the arborvitae we planted last spring look splayed out/bent over. Is there anything we can do, and is it permanent?

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Comments (8)

dcsteg
14 years ago
Free it from snow load and it should recover in no time at all. If it stays in a bent position after recovering it could have a loose root ball. In that case straighten and secure with a stake.

Dave
Margie Crawford
Original Author
14 years ago
Thank you - I'm relieved!
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Actually, Emerald arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd') is one of THE MOST prone of the arborvitae cultivars for splaying open due to heavy snows. This is because the wholesale plant producers need to produce their plants as quickly as possible for maximum profit potential. A nice full plant will also sell much quicker/be more attractive to consumers and so the growers allow many low stems to develop and those stems ultimately become multiple leaders that splay apart in heavy snows. Thuja occidentalis 'Hetz Wintergreen' is one of the best of the arborvitae cultivars for handling heavy snow loads because it tends to grow naturally with only one leader being produced. Any of the arborvitae cultivars can become plants that can tolerate snow loads as long as you start with small plants and allow only one leader to develop. Unfortunately, most of the plants that can be found in the nursery trade are already multiple-leader plants when purchased - with the notable exception of 'Hetz Wintergreen'. Mike
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Obviously when you are dealing with 50 6 ft. Arbs you have a lot invested not to mention planting. Replacement would be the way to go if dealing with less in number and smaller plants. In your case I don't think that's an option. Not sure there. If investment was slight then replace. As brandon7 mentioned graduating to single leader plants would be your only remaining option. Select one strong leader located in the center of the shrub, and either remove all other vertical shoots entirely, or remove them gradually as new growth fills in behind the leader. This will prevent a lopsided shrub with most of the growth on one side. I would opt to remove them gradually maintaining an acceptable look as they develop gradually. If it were me, for now, I would stake and wrap them with twine to stabilize for the winter. Then began the leader reduction next spring. Dave
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Well, a picture would help, but there are advantages to both approaches. Cutting the most splayed branches back would make them less prone to snow damage, but the more green you cut off, the harder it is on the plant. You never want to cut more than a third off any plant, and conifers may be even more sensitive. With as tough as this winter was on plants, I'd opt for the least amount of trimming this time around. tj
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
14 years ago
and next year... you can tie them up to avoid the problem ....

it is imperative in your zone ...

welcome to GW ..

ken
Margie Crawford
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks for the advice - I'll tie up the existing plants next year. The garden centers should probably mention this...

But I need screening plants in other parts of the yard. Yew won't work because of the deer. I'm starting to think hollies.
mike_beck_me_com
14 years ago
Snow load was big problem for me as well, particularly in southern NJ this winter where we had a couple record storms with over 30" each. I have 12 - 14 ft. arborvitae that were bent over so far that they were touching the ground. I staked them back when I could but a lot of damage was done. The tops of the arborvitae are still somewhat bent (but still very full) and from, say, 3 - 5 ft above ground there is a lot of dead branches.

So, my question: can I (should I) trim off the top 2 - 3 feet to even them out (I have 6 in a row), and which will - so I am told - serve as a catalyst for new growth in the lower areas. Thanks much.
wisconsitom
14 years ago
Single-stem versions of Thuja are the only way to go in snow country. Even though it was not such a snowy winter around here this past season, there was one 15" snowfall that occurred in mid-Dec. and then stuck around for months. All the silly multi-stemmed cultivars are now being cut down. They're junk. Meanwhile, up in my woods I've got hundreds of specimens of the straight species. None of those were adversely affected by snowload. A pine tree did fall on one though, and that one is not standing too straight anymore!

+oM
noki
14 years ago
Can bent branches get strong and stay upright again if tied up as they grow during summer?
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
14 years ago
i suppose you can tie them ... and maybe it will work ... and hopefully you will remember to remove the ties over time. .. if you do tie.. use twine that will break down.. rather than plastic based ... they rot off if you forget for a decade.. lol ...

or go in.. and remove all multiple leaders... the single leader will very quickly force massive growth and look pretty good within a year or two ...

or... cut the ones leaning.. until they pop up straight ... usually i err towards too long.. and have to make a few cuts until i find the sweet spot ... again.. with no impact on the root system.. they will fill in.. sooner or later ...

the short term uglies.. IMHO .. is better than rope and stakes.. etc ...

yes its major surgery .. but your only other option is to get a single leader plant... and kill the first.. may as well experiment first ...

ken

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snow on arborvitae

Comments (8)

dcsteg

Margie Crawford
Original Author

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snow on arborvitae

Comments (8)

dcsteg

Margie CrawfordOriginal Author

Related Discussions

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

Margie CrawfordOriginal Author

mike_beck_me_com

wisconsitom

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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

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CONNECT WITH US

Margie Crawford
Original Author

Margie Crawford
Original Author