The Emerald Green Arborvitae, scientifically known as Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’, is a popular evergreen plant used for creating a narrow, columnar screen or hedge. Prized for its dense, vibrant emerald-green foliage that retains its color year-round, it is a favored choice for privacy in tight spaces. Acquiring healthy specimens requires understanding the retail channels, the physical formats in which the plant is sold, and how to verify quality before purchase. This guide clarifies the necessary steps for successfully securing your Emerald Green Arborvitae plants.
Primary Retail Sources for Purchase
The three primary avenues for purchasing this conifer offer distinct advantages concerning price, size, and available expertise.
Local and independent garden centers often provide the highest level of horticultural knowledge tailored to your specific climate. These nurseries are more likely to offer large, high-quality specimens, including Balled and Burlapped (B&B) stock, though this often comes at a higher cost.
Large chain home improvement stores are convenient and accessible, offering competitive pricing, especially on smaller, container-grown sizes. However, plants at these locations may have received less specialized care, and staff expertise on arborvitae issues can vary significantly.
Online mail-order nurseries provide an avenue for sourcing a wider selection of sizes and potentially less common stock. This method requires careful consideration of shipping costs and transit time, as the health of the plant during transport is a greater concern. You will not be able to physically inspect the plants before they arrive.
Understanding Plant Formats and Sizing
Emerald Green Arborvitae are commonly sold in three physical formats, each impacting handling, price, and transplant success.
Container-grown plants are the most widely available format, ranging from small one-gallon pots to large 15-gallon sizes. They are convenient to transport and plant, as the root system remains intact with the surrounding soil, leading to minimal transplant shock.
Balled and Burlapped (B&B) stock consists of trees grown in the ground and mechanically dug up with a portion of their native soil encased in burlap and a wire basket. This format is used for larger, mature specimens that provide immediate visual impact. Because a portion of the root system is severed during digging, B&B trees are heavier and require careful handling to prevent the root ball from breaking apart.
Bare-root stock is the least common format, generally only available for small, young plants during the dormant season. These plants are shipped without surrounding soil, making them the lightest and least expensive option. Bare-root plants require immediate planting upon arrival and have the highest risk of desiccation if not kept consistently moist.
Key Quality Checks Before Buying
A thorough visual inspection is necessary before purchase to ensure the plant is healthy and structurally sound.
The foliage of a healthy ‘Smaragd’ should exhibit a uniform, deep emerald-green color without signs of yellowing or browning. Brown or bronze foliage can indicate issues like water stress, winter burn, or the presence of spider mites. The central leader, or main vertical stem, should be straight and undamaged, supporting the naturally columnar shape.
For container-grown plants, check the base of the trunk for girdling roots, which circle the inside of the pot and can choke the tree. Roots protruding excessively from the drainage holes indicate the plant is severely root-bound and requires extra preparation before planting.
B&B root balls should feel firm and solid; a loose or crumbling root ball indicates substantial root damage during harvest. Inspect the foliage and branch crotches for signs of pests like bagworms or fungal diseases, such as sooty mold or discolored spots.
Logistics and Timing of Acquisition
The timing of your purchase and planting directly affects the plant’s ability to establish a robust root system. The optimal period for planting Emerald Green Arborvitae is either in the early spring, as soon as the soil is workable, or in the early fall, six to eight weeks before the first hard frost. These cooler seasons minimize heat stress and allow the tree to focus energy on root growth before summer or winter sets in.
Safe transportation of the arborvitae from the point of sale to your yard is a crucial logistical step. When transporting the plants, especially larger B&B specimens, the root ball must be secured to prevent shifting, which could damage the roots or trunk. Protect the foliage from wind burn during transit by covering the trees with a tarp or placing them inside an enclosed vehicle.
If the plants cannot be immediately installed upon arrival, keep the root balls and containers shaded and consistently moist. For container plants, ensure regular watering; for B&B trees, the burlap should be kept damp to prevent the soil from drying out. Temporary placement in a sheltered location helps acclimate the plant and reduce stress before it is permanently sited in the landscape.