Spacing dilemma for my emerald arborvitaes

12 years ago

I have 9 emerald arborvitae that I planted in a row 4 feet from each other, and I have decided they are not close enough to provide the screening I want in my side yard. Can I plant more of the same arborvitae trees in between, which would make them 24 inches apart, or is it a better idea to try to transplant the ones I have to put them closer together, maybe 30 inches from each other?

I planted the trees to screen the view outside my dining room window, so I wouldn't have to see my neighbor's driveway, where they often park -- I'm not kidding -- five or more cars. Three of the trees have been in the ground four years and they are about 8 to 9 feet tall. The other six have been in the ground about three years, and they are about 6 feet tall.

This is why I want more screening: I originally wanted a sort of "friendly'' screening from the neighbor's driveway, but the trees even now are not touching each other, and I can still see the parked cars from my dining room, where we spend a lot of time. Also, sometimes it is really windy here, and I think planting them closer would fortify them. In the winter, the snow really beats them up, but I try to tie them up before the big snowfalls to keep them from splaying. So far they have done real well.

I planted all of them myself, which was hard work but not impossible (purchased at about five feet tall). They are very healthy and green, because they are in a very sunny location and I water them regularly.

I tried digging up one of the three-year old trees the other day in an effort to move it, but gave up after a while. The roots seem too deep by now and obviously it's going to take a lot more muscle to move these babies.

What would any of you do? Plant new smaller trees in between, or maybe hire someone to move my existing ones so they can be closer together, and buy a few more to add to the row? Would I be damaging the trees by moving them now? Would it slow down their growth?

The other option, which I am not crazy about, is to plant a staggered row of trees in front of the existing one, to fill the gaps but not be in a parallel line to the old ones. But that would take up more space in my side yard, which I didn't really want to do.

Thanks for any advise you can give.

Featured Answer

alley_cat_gw_7b

12 years ago

Sorry to say...but i dont think you will squeeze anymore between the ones you have planted and be happy with the results. Maybe you could plant another cultivar in front of the gaps that doesnt get quite as wide like 'Degroots Spire'.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (11)

mmajicmann
12 years ago
hmmm... i think i would plant skyrocket junipers in between but slightly (a foot) staggered outward... more emeralds between would be too tight and this might be a good look. :)

Here is a link that might be useful: skyrockets
Related Discussions
Not This (Emerald Arborvitae), But That (...???...)
Q
Comments (5)
If you are willing to give them annual trimming, thee are a number of plants that will work. Broadleafed evergreens such as holly or yew work well in lower light. I tend to use Blue Princess Holly. Dwarf alberta spruce and other needleleaf evergreens want a lot of sun light. My personal bias is against the alberta on a house corner because it tends to be too pyramidal which introduces two angled lines that look odd with the vertical line of the house corner. One of the things that is often a problem with arborvitaes is that they tend to splay apart in heavey snows and lose their form.
...See More
Emerald Green Arborvitae spacing for thick privacy fence
Q
Comments (4)
There was a gap in the mixed border along one side of my yard, close to my neighbor's porch, and I wanted privacy so I planted some Emerald Green Arborvitaes along there. They were pretty big, six-eight feet tall, in 10 gallon pots. Like Saypoint, I planted them approx. 3.5 feet apart on center and about 4 feet from the lot line. This may look far apart if the trees are very small when you plant them, but it won't be once they're larger. When they are mature, I am hoping they touch and feather together a bit but don't crowd each other. I also planted them in a sort of loose zig-zag pattern instead of straight in a row. I don't like straight lines and rigid geometric shapes in the yard, prefer a more naturalized appearance. I am also planting a mix of deciduous and evergreen shrubbery, and perennials in front of the Arborvitae, so essentially they are going to serve as a green backdrop.
...See More
Can you control the height at all on an Emerald Green Arborvitae?
Q
Comments (3)
why yes.. i give you permission to do whatever you wish.. with your plants ... in your little slice of the garden of eden ... if you ruin them.. and make all the purists heads explode at the thought.. who cares ... go buy more after they are butchered ... and start over in a few years ... seriously.. if it will please you.. do it ... who cares what the eggheads think ... its not like they are $1000 a piece .. eh??? ken ps: you didnt ask if there are alternatives ....
...See More
Emerald arborvitae
Q
Comments (6)
That would be 'Hetz Wintergreen' :-). These are not as common as the 'Smaragd's (Emerald Green) because they grow a lot taller......in urban areas, that 12-15' height is very desirable and about the ideal privacy screening height. IMO, comparing arborvitaes to grafted conifers is like comparing apples to oranges...........why? Arborvitae, regardless of where one locates or purchases them, fill a very useful and obvious need and it is just plant snobbery not to acknowledge that. Second, not all that many conifers tend to be grafted.........around here it tends to be just the Lawson cypresses that are prone to root rots and so are grafted on resistant rootstock. Otherwise, most everybody else is on their own roots :-)) "Designer" conifers - LOL!! I love that terminology! I consider designer conifers anything that grows other than nature intended - balls on a stick, poodling, spiraling, even cloud pruning. I know there is a market for them.......it's just not with me :-))
...See More
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
12 years ago
i didnt read beyond the first paragraph..

you would add a second line.. 2 or 3 feet in front ...

if you cant dig to transplant.. how do you expect to dig in between??? [wait.. i think i just admitted i read the rest]

this is where you tell us.. you have no more room in the small space between the house and the driveway ...

what a nightmare.. did you ever consider a half curtain.. letting light up top ... but blocking below??

ken
hmsweethm
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks for the feedback so far. Ken, it's not that I don't have room between the house and the driveway -- I do -- but I just don't really want a double row of trees. It's about 20 feet or more, enough room for a flower bed right next to the house and a small lawn between the flower bed and the trees.

Also, it's not that I don't have room to dig -- what I meant is that it's harder work than a 5 foot 2 woman could handle with a simple shovel. I'm tough, but I couldn't get it out of the ground. But a stronger person could probably do it. My question is whether the trees can take being transplanted. Would I be harming the trees by moving them over a few inches since they are as big as they are?
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
12 years ago
first.. have you ever sharpened your shovel .. its like cutting a tomato with a dull knife ..

if you cant .. any hardware store that would sharpen a mower blade can do it ...

we would prefer that they be moved when dormant .... rather than actively growing.. and i dont know if now is good where you are ... other than the vague NJ ...

yes they can be moved.. but i cant tell you if that is the thing to do RIGHT NOW ...

and dont forget.. you dont have to move them all .. start at the end.. and move the end ones into the middle.. leaving as many as possible.. not moved.. eh ...

a pic might tell us ...

if you move them.. you are responsible for PROPER WATER all this year... ask if you dont know what that means ...

ken
hmsweethm
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks for your help. I think I just decided that I will move them in the fall. And I will water frequently. Hope they make it!

I'm in Zone 7a, and here is a photo of some of the trees.

{{gwi:681985}}
hmsweethm
Original Author
12 years ago
Sorry. Here it is again:
{{gwi:681986}}
nancita
10 years ago
Hi I am wondering if you ever transplanted your arborvitae I think I may be in the same boat you you were and I just had six arborvitae plant but they were supposed to be planted 3 feet apart and I'm pretty sure it's more like 4 feet apart I don't think there will be a know to block out my neighbors front door I was thinking of putting something I feel like lilacs for something else to grow in between just checking to see how you made out
Roxana *** ZN 5 Indianapolis IN ***
5 years ago
Any updates here please :) ???
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
5 years ago
This thread is at least 6 years old!! It may be better to start your own thread Roxana, or at least post a question specific to your concerns.
ilumtaitw
4 years ago
Roxana - Did you ever start your own thread regarding spacing of your arborvitae trees?

Spacing dilemma for my emerald arborvitaes

alley_cat_gw_7b

Comments (11)

mmajicmann

Related Discussions

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

hmsweethm
Original Author

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

hmsweethm
Original Author

hmsweethm
Original Author

nancita

Roxana * ZN 5 Indianapolis IN *

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

ilumtaitw

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Spacing dilemma for my emerald arborvitaes

Comments (11)

Related Discussions

hmsweethmOriginal Author

hmsweethmOriginal Author

hmsweethmOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

hmsweethm
Original Author

hmsweethm
Original Author

hmsweethm
Original Author