Do you still sell rhododendrons?  
No. We had grown rhododendrons for nearly 40 years, but have recently phased completely out of them. We now specialize only in Emerald Green Arborvitae.

Do you ship Arborvitae to the East Coast?
Due to the large size, weight and bulk of our Emerald Green Arborvitae, we only ship full truck loads (about 145 to 165 trees) interstate. We encourage local homeowners to come and pick up their plants, and for a moderate fee we can also deliver within a 40 mile radius of our nursery for a minimum plant order of 35 to 50 plants.

Do you grow in containers?
No. All of our material is field grown. Just prior to shipment the trees are dug, and their root balls are wrapped in burlap.

How are your plants shipped?
Most of the time we load directly onto semi-trucks with 48 or 53-foot trailers. We prefer to have our clients make arrangements for the trucks, as we are not responsible for freight charges.

Do you ship the arborvitae on pallets?
No, we can not load a truck very efficiently using pallets. Our over sized pallets are specially made to accommodate about a dozen trees for hauling them out of the field. When loading for shipment, a pallet is placed on the rear of the truck. Each tree is taken off the pallet and then individually stacked inside the truck. Often times the trees are at least four to five layers high in a tier. (See our “Shipping” section for more details)

How many trees can you load onto a truck?
This can vary because of the total weight and bulk of the trees, but usually we can get from 145 to 165 on a full truck.

Planting & Care

How close should arborvitae be planted to produce a solid, privacy hedge? Typical spacing for a solid hedge is from 2 feet to 2 ½ feet apart from trunk to trunk. Three foot spacing will also eventually fill in, but the hedge may not be completely solid at time of planting.

Can arborvitae be planted under or near shade trees?
Ideally, they prefer full sun exposure. If there’s too much shade they tend to grow more spindly and sparse. Also, if they’re too close to shade trees they will compete for root moisture. Full sun and ample watering will produce more lush growth and healthier trees.

Does the burlap and twine have to be removed when planting? When planting you can either remove the burlap entirely, or leave it in place because it is biodegradable in the soil. The plastic twine, however, must be cut away from the base of the trunk and upper part of the root ball because it will NOT deteriorate and could eventually girdle the tree as it grows. 

Is there a specific soil type that’s recommended for arborvitae? They adapt to a wide range of soil types as long as there’s adequate drainage in the soil.

How often do they require watering?
Maintaining adequate root moisture for the first year after planting is critical especially when planting larger size trees.  We strongly suggest placing black rubber soaker hoses on both sides of the hedge which will supply steady moisture directly to the root area.  (This is not always possible with rainfall because their dense foliage often sheds rain away from their roots.) Immediately following planting, the soaker hoses can be left running for a day or more until the root balls and surrounding soil is thoroughly saturated. 

After you initially soak the trees then taper off watering to an hour or more each day, or whatever is necessary to keep the root area from drying out.  This will vary depending on weather, time of year and the water holding capacity of your particular soil. Even after the first year, water is essential for maintaining a healthy and flourishing hedge.