skip to main content

What kind of arborvitae do I have?

11 years ago

Hi everyone!

I moved into my house three years ago. It has two arborvitae near the foundation. They have grown considerably, from a couple feet tall to about five. Is there a way to tell what variety they are, so we'll know how big they are? One is right in front of a window, and it's up to the sill now!

Thanks for your help!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

greenhaven
11 years ago
A green one! :oP Sorry, couldn't resist!

I cannot tell you variety, but I can say they will get big. People plant arbs way too close to the foundation/house all the time. :o/

Your best bet would be to move them come Spring.
coniferjoy
11 years ago
It's the Thuja occidentalis 'Emerald Green' in the U.S.
In Europe it's named Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd' which is also the original name given to this conifer.
Related Discussions
Arborvitae - brown spots from no sun - what do I do?
Q
Comments (5)
Are the trees yours or the neighbors, or mutually owned (ouch)? If they are yours, are they sticking over the property line - and if so, will the neighbor let you go over and keep any weeds down - it sounds like he would? If he will let you, and if they are your arbs, I would keep the weeds down in the future - you have seen what persistent shade will do to the arbs. I would wait and see if you get any green breaking from the brown branches, and only prune off - with pruners, loppers or a pruning saw, NOT breaking off - what is clearly dead around the end of June or so. As Ken says, taking off the clearly dead needles is a good idea - if nothing else, it will look better, and it will let light into the plant. Try shaking the branches gently, or gently sweeping your hand down the branches - wear gloves as the dead needles can prick - if the needles don't come off easily, leaves them for another day - they MIGHT still be trying to live. It IS possible the arborvitae won't come back. In that case, you need to decide if the "half" trees are OK for you, or if you want to remove them and replace them with the same or different plants. The row WILL look different, no matter what you do, so work from there.
...See More
I have mint, how do I tell what kind it is.
Q
Comments (8)
It does look like a mint... but there are mints and there are mints. Catnip is a mint. Horehound is a mint. Gill-Over-the Ground is a mint. Plants in the mint family have a squared stem and have paired opposite leaves, as do your plants. A word of caution? If you plant different mints within reach of each other (10 to 20 feet), you will end up with common or wild mint, which has a mild, indistinguishable minty flavor. Mint propogates by sending out runners across or just beneath the surface of the ground, and will cross with any other mint within reach. I grow Spearmint and Peppermint plants in pots separated by about 12 feet of deck space. If your mint tastes like chewing gum or toothpaste, it COULD be Spearmint. Peppermint does have a bite to it - at least it does to me - and after chewing it for a minute or two tastes like peppermint stick candy. The flowers of Spearmint grow in a spike at the tips of the branches. Whichever you have, in order to maintain the flavor, try to get more of the same type of mint to plant with it. Why not dig up some of the plants and scatter them around the orchard? Have you tried cooking with it? Add it to salads or to Middle-Eastern dishes like Spanikopita or Moussaka, Greek soups or spinach dishes, spinach quiche, etc. You can also add it to your tea or just to boiling water or to lemonade for a refreshing drink that will also lower your body temperature by a few degrees. And be sure to dry some to use during the off-season. Hope that helps! - JB Hope that helps?
...See More
What kind of weed do I have and how do I control them
Q
Comments (2)
Image is too small. However you can apply a per-emergent herbicide such as XL or Amaze mid-Feb., mid-May and mid- September to prevent them germinating in the first place. Here is a link that might be useful: XL
...See More
What kind of microfibre mop do you have? How do I use it???
Q
Comments (4)
I use the Mr. Mister mop with BONA and microfiber cloths from Solutions. I have wood floors in every room except the bath and laundry. The mop is handy because I can put the BONA inside, but the head tends to flop around and you have to refold/change the cloth every so often. I find it easier to just get on my hands and knees unless I'm doing more than a couple of rooms at a time. I have never used it dry. I don't baby my floors, but those Solutions cloths are very *grabby*. I'd be afraid little rocks would get caught in the cloth and add more scratches to the floor. Before mopping, I use a regular old-fashioned dust mop to push everything out the front or back door. No kiddies here so I don't have to mop very often. I sweep or vacuum every few days and spot clean as necessary. I believe BONA is short for BONAKEMI. I purchase the big jug of floor cleaner from the Bona website. I also use it to clean wood furniture and cabinets - I haven't bought Pledge or Murphy or Endust or anything like that in ages. I could be paying way too much for the BONA. I've never comparison shopped it.
...See More
dcsteg
11 years ago
Intermediate slow grower. 10-15 ft.

One or the other will have to go. Maple seedlings or Emerald Greens.

Dae
gardener365
11 years ago
Yep, Left to right:
Silver maple (tall)
Norway maple (short)
Tulip poplar (right & tall) and beneath Norway maple.
blackberry (behind).

For (any) id purposes. ;-)

Dax
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 years ago
conifers are trees..

so in theory.. they never stop growing ... most size estimates are at 10 years.. at 20.. they will be twice as big ... thought this one does tend to slow down.. over the years ...

yours will naturally.. get at least 4 to 5 feet wide.. over the years ... so is at least 6 feet too close to the house... and since you will need to paint the house.. 8 feet too close ... they should never touch a wood house ...

move it in dormancy ... either fall when night temps are 60'ish .. or in spring.. as soon as the soil is workable.. if it freezes.. otherwise.. april ... but its an arb.. you will really have to try to kill it ...

the other trees dax named.. are invasive weeds.. and that is why they are growing IN YOUR ARB ... lol ... if you need trees.. you can do a whole lot better than those ...

ken
wisconsitom
11 years ago
They're not 'invasive weeds' in the true sense of that term, but they are weeds in the context of your wanting to grow that arbor vitae there!

W. New York huh? I don't live there but I've been there a few times. I'll bet both silver maple and tulip tree are native species there.

+oM

Related Stories

FOLIAGE Great Design Plant: 'Forever Goldie' Arborvitae

As soft as a teddy bear, this golden conifer adds year-round interest to the garden

LIFE The Polite House: How Can I Kindly Get Party Guests to Use Coasters?

Here’s how to handle the age-old entertaining conundrum to protect your furniture — and friendships

ACCESSORIES Collective Wisdom: Display Ideas for Collections of All Kinds

By Becky Dietrich, Interior Designer

Show your interests without exposing clutter by going for artful arrangements with a unified feel

LANDSCAPE DESIGN What Kind of Gardener Are You? Find Your Archetype

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

Pick from our descriptions to create a garden that matches your personality and tells your story

PRODUCT PICKS Guest Picks: Contemporary Lighting for All Kinds of Needs

Task lamps, floor lamps, pendants ... Whether you’re reading in bed or want a glow overhead, there’s a light here for you

PRODUCT PICKS Guest Picks: Handy Finds for Painting Projects of All Kinds

By Decor Adventures

Make over rooms and furniture more easily and with better results with the right paint and gear

KITCHEN DESIGN Today’s Coffee Stations Have All Kinds of Perks

By Becky Harris

Some of these features are so over the top that they will give you a jolt

GARDENING GUIDES Nothocalais Cuspidata Isn’t That Kind of Dandelion

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

This native dandelion for spring pollinators thrives in tough conditions in central U.S. prairies

A Different Kind Of Beach House

By Janell Beals - House of Fifty

PAINTING Bulletproof Decorating: How to Pick the Right Kind of Paint

Choose a paint with some heft and a little sheen for walls and ceilings with long-lasting good looks. Here are some getting-started tips

Sponsored

More Discussions

Picea pungens 'The Blues'… dying??

20

How to Make Topsoil

22

Sudden Globe blue spruce death?

2

Metasequoia glyptostroboides in z4

18

Ponderosa pine Montana champ

4