Planting

• Plant emerald arborvitae in spring, summer or fall. Dig the hole two to three times the width of the root ball and as deep as the root ball is tall. Remove the arborvitae from the container and place the tree in the center of the hole. If planting ball and burlap, leave the burlap on the root ball. Backfill the hole halfway with the soil removed from the hole. Water around the hole to settle the soil. Release the burlap and turn it down. Finish backfilling the hole.
  
  

Fertilizing

• No fertilizer is needed at the time of planting. To determine if fertilizer is needed later on, contact your local cooperative extension service, usually associated with a state college or university, to learn where to drop off a soil sample in your area. The extension will advise how much soil is needed for the test, which may be about 1 cup. If fertilizer is needed, wait until the spring following planting. Apply a high-nitrogen fertilizer, like 12-6-3, to stimulate growth. After the emerald arborvitae reaches its mature height, only fertilize in the spring as needed, such as if the color of the tree is fading.
  
  

Watering

• After planting, thoroughly water over the root ball to saturate the soil. Water weekly until late fall if there is no, or little, rainfall. The second and third year, water about every two weeks if rainfall is minimal. After the third year, the tree should have sufficient root system to draw moisture from rainfall only. However, if rainfall is minimal over a 30-day time frame, watering may be needed.
  
  

Pruning

• To control the height of emerald arborvitae or to handle damage from limbs bent or broken by snow or ice, the top of the tree can be cut back. Look inside the tree for the "dead zone" where the interior has died back from lack of sunlight. Browning in the center of evergreens is normal. In the spring, make a cut down 2 feet from the top of the tree or just above the dead zone, whichever is shorter. Use pruners or loppers that have been sterilized with rubbing alcohol or bleach to avoid transferring disease from a previously pruned plant. New growth will appear as the season progresses.
  
  

Considerations

• Spread about 4 inches of bark mulch or peat moss around the base of the tree, extending out to the drip line, which is an imaginary circle around the tree marking the width of the tree. Keep the mulch about 4 inches from the trunk of the tree. Snow can be shaken from a bending emerald arborvitae. Stake the tree if needed to keep it upright, or drooping branches may be loosely tied with upright branches. Remove the ties or support when new growth appears.