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.
Cedar Care
They prefer well drained soil and full sun to part shade. They grow well in full sun but tend to have a more open and ratty appearance when grown in 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 the 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. Just 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.
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.
Got Questions?
Here are some frequent questions we get asked about Hedging Cedars
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)
See our Hedging Cedar Planting Tip page.
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.
See our Hedging Cedar Planting Tip page.