Cedars are virtually disease and pest resistant. Cedars look great as a single specimen, planted in clusters to create privacy or in containers. They are the number one choice for an evergreen hedge.
Port Kells Nurseries has over 80,000 hedging cedars growing on its 37 acres.
One of our staff members will be happy to help you find the one that is right for you.
About Cedars
Cedars prefer well drained soil and full sun to part shade.
Fertilize your cedar hedge in the early spring when flowers and plants are blooming. Refrain from fertilizing the hedge in late summer, as the hedge will require rest for dormancy during the winter.
Flowers
Arborvitae are monoecious have separate sexes on the same plant. The male flowers are yellow and drop off in the spring. Female flowers are greenish and they are the ones that produce cones. Sometimes you will find plants with lots of cones. It could be that the plant just has an overabundance of female flowers or sometimes it is a sign of plant stress.
Pruning
Cedar hedges won’t need to be pruned during their first year or when they are under 3 feet. As hedges mature, start pruning your cedar hedge in early spring. Use the shortest plant as a guide, and trim off tops to match, then do a light trim on the sides. If your goal is to encourage more height, do not trim the the leader, or topmost shoot. Prune a few inches of growth to encourage both height and fullness. Avoid pruning in temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius. To keep plants healthy, never cut more than one-third of the plant in one season.
Got Questions?
Here are some of our best tips for planting
Emerald Cedar
The emerald is an evergreen cedar with bright green colour to its foliage which darkens as it ages.
It can be kept at 1.5-1.8 meters (5 – 6 feet) or reach a height of 6 meters (20 feet) and have a spread of about 1.2 meters (4 feet).
They make an excellent screen, and can grow at a rate of about 30 centimeters (1 foot) per year.
Emeralds fill out right to the ground and therefore does not necessarily require facer plants in front.
Ideal for single plantings or great to form a lush green hedge.
The ideal spacing to form a good solid hedge is 60 centimeters (2 feet) apart (center to center)
See our Hedging Cedar Planting Tip page.
Pyramidal Cedar
The pyramidal arborvitae is a slender evergreen tree with a bright green colour to its foliage, which darkens as it ages.
It can be kept at 1.5-1.8 meters (5 – 6 feet) or let grow to a height of 4.6 meters (15 feet) and have a spread of about 1.2 m (4 feet).
They make an excellent screen and can grow at a rate of 30 centimeters (1 foot) per year.
The lush foliage makes it an attractive plant year round.
Fills out right to the ground and therefore does not require facer plants in front.
The ideal spacing to form a good solid hedge is 60 centimeters (2 feet) apart (center to center)
Western Red Cedar
The Western Red Cedar is an excellent choice for larger hedges or a larger individual conifer.
It is one of the fastest growing cedars. It can grow 30 – 60 centimeters (1-2 feet) per year.
As a hedge it will make an excellent wind and noise breaker.
It can be kept as a hedge from 1.8 – 2.4 meters (6 – 7 feet) or let grow to a taller hedge.
It requires more width space 1.2 m (4 feet) and can be planted from 60 centimeters to 1.5 meters (2 – 5 feet) apart.
Planting Tips
When to Plant
Spring… If you are prepared to nurture your new shrubs through the summer you can successfully transplant in early spring.
Summer… Not good for transplanting established trees, but planting trees purchased from Nurseries is fine, providing enough watering is available throughout the summer months.
Fall… Transplanted cedars will have the winter months to establish new roots, so the plant can take off in the spring.
Another benefit is that nature takes over the watering chore soon after planting.
How to Plant
For a good hedge, plant 60 centimeters (2 feet) to a maximum of 91 centimeters (3 feet) apart from main stem to main stem.
Pyramidal plants grow more uniformly in width from top to bottom whereas the Emeralds grow to a point.
For a privacy hedge place the Emeralds closer together than the Pyramidal variety.
Keep in mind that for either variety if they are too crowded and don’t get enough light it could result in defoliation.
Preparation
Prepare the planting hole by digging a width about twice as wide as the root ball.
The depth of the hole is more important than the proper width. Most plants have a preference when it comes to how deep to plant them.
Always add bone meal to the roots before covering the root ball.
If the plant is being taken from clay soil and located in clay soil, plant it at the same level at which it was growing previously.
If it is coming from loose soil and going into a heavier soil, plant it slightly higher so water is more likely to drain away.
Fertilizing
If you are planting in the spring it may be beneficial to fertilize a freshly-transplanted shrub to encourage new growth.
Do not fertilize if planting in the fall.
The plants will be getting ready to go dormant for winter so you shouldn’t try to encourage new growth.
Mature cedars are heavy feeders and need fertilizer every spring or fall.
Watering
The most critical activity in a successful transplant is water. You want to water, not soak your plants.
The symptoms of over watering are the same as under watering. Saturated soil deprives roots of oxygen.
Plants will develop patches of brown and will appear stressed.
Water thoroughly when planting and then apply up to 8 centimeters (3 inches) of mulch to help retain the moisture.
Thereafter, water as needed depending on soil and environmental conditions.
*At no time should the soil or the root ball be kept soggy.