When it comes to landscaping and deciding what types of plants and trees to grow in your yard, the possibilities are endless. One of the very popular choices is the Emerald Green arborvitae. You may be wondering ‘how long do Emerald Green Arborvitae live?’
Quick Answer
Emerald Green arborvitae live for 25 years or more. With the right care they are long lasting and easy to maintain.
Emerald Green arborvitae are hardy, resilient, evergreen trees that can do it all with little to no maintenance. They often top out at about 15 feet, and you can count on them to line up your landscape, provide privacy, and tout a yearlong emerald glow. Even better, they can stand to drought, insects, diseases, and extreme temperatures. But, how long do they live?
While lifespan is often not a key factor to consider when choosing what perennials to plant, for trees that add an elegant accent to your lawn, lifespan might be an element of interest. In this regard, the average lifespan of the Emerald Green arborvitae is about 25 years.
This post will cover more about growing and caring for Emerald Green arborvitae.
About the Emerald Green arborvitae
Also known as “Smaragd” due to its Danish origins, Emerald Green arborvitae is a landscape evergreen tree that grows to be about 10-15 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide. It is famous for its dense, scale-shaped deep, evergreen foliage. As such, it should be no surprise that it is highly prized as foundation plants and natural privacy screens for smaller or medium yards and narrow spaces. Mature trees have layers of feather-like greenery sprays that add a fancier look.
At a glance, Emerald Green arborvitae trees have a cone-like shape. They grow fairly fast, with an average vertical growth of 1-2 feet per year when young and 6-9 inches per year when established. With their evergreen foliage, they are sure to add texture and an attractive, upscale look to your landscape.
For gardeners and homeowners considering planting these ornamental trees, the good news is that they are hardy and can tolerate extremely cold conditions. They tend to perform well in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 8.
Growing and caring for Emerald Green arborvitae
When it comes to outdoor trees, you want them to last for decades. Emerald Green arborvitae is an excellent plant and a great choice for gardeners looking for narrow, evergreen ornamental trees that don’t get too tall.
As for planting, Emerald Green arborvitae are adaptable to a vast range of soil conditions. However, for the most successful trees, it is best to plant them in moderately moist, well-draining loamy soil with neutral to slightly alkaline pH. They tolerate extreme temperatures and can thrive in differing amounts of sunlight, flourishing best in full sun or partial shade. Precisely, Emerald Green arborvitae need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day.
After planting, you will need to water your Emerald Green arborvitae bi-weekly for a few months. Importantly, you will need to water only sufficient amounts – too much water can cause root rot, whereas too little water can cause leaves to turn brown or yellow.
Once established, Emerald Green arborvitae trees are fairly drought-resistant and cold-hardy (able to tolerate snow and ice). That said, they perform best in cooler, dryer climates. In humid conditions, they can be affected by fungal diseases, and in colder climates, heavy snow can break branches.
Unlike many other plants we grow on our lawns, Emerald Green arborvitae generally do not need feeding. The only time you may want to feed your trees is when growth is sparse or slow.
When it comes to pruning, Emerald Green arborvitae do not require pruning. Even so, many homeowners often trim or shear their trees to keep them in the desired shape and foster thicker, dense growth. Should you want to prune your Emerald Green arborvitae trees, trim in early spring, shearing only the leafy parts of the branch while being careful not to cut back to bare wood.
If you are an adventurous gardener, you may want to prune your standalone scrubs to form spiral topiaries.
How Long Do Emerald Green Arborvitae Live: Conclusion
Emerald Green arborvitae are easy-to-grow, low-maintenance trees that are sure to add texture to any landscape. With proper care, they can live for 25 years or more. Thankfully, they are cold hardy, and tolerate drought and diseases when established. With these tips, you should be able to raise Emerald Green arborvitae successfully.
Related Article: 8 Ornamental Trees That Grow Well in the Shade