Any experience with planting Emerald Green Aborvvitaes?

[KFC911]

Baz? Anyone?

I know Sept is prime for planting, but how late can it be for planting them.... or should I wait until spring? I've got a few more to get in the ground this week, recovering from a sore back, but that's only half of my project... is getting the rest and planting them heading into Nov. OK .... or should I wait?

It's a freakin' chore .... prepping the holes in "almost like concrete" sandrock.... and slow going.

And my back still hurts

Thanks!

edited: Don't know if it matters, but these are in 10 gal containers and about 4' tall.

[wilnj]

In North Carolina I think you’ll be fine out to Christmas. Arborvitae are very hardy.

One word of caution, either plant them far apart or plan on taking a few out in a few years. Better yet, plant them in staggered rows of two. What kills them is crowding.

[john70t]

I had a couple of them die on the side of the house after many years of not growing well. Next to electric meter. In the former spot of a tree and rotting roots. I did not add soil. Shaded except for a few hours direct sunlight. Something did them in. I watered and occasionally fertilized. The one at the end with full sun is doing okay.

[KFC911]

Thanks guys .... I'm planting them 3' apart (the recommendation from all sources that I've seen) and they'll get plenty of direct sun. It's the soil that I'm battling .... they need drainage and sandrock doesn't drain .... period .

A hole with water in it just won't drain .... so it's a chore to prep them.

...and then there is my back

I'll get there

[john70t]

"A mountain is moved one shovel at a time"
-some smart person now dead. hmmm....

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by john70t

"A mountain is moved one shovel at a time"
-some smart person now dead. hmmm....

It wasn't me

[Rusty Heap]

They're candy to deer. nibble nibble

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by Rusty Heap

They're candy to deer. nibble nibble

So true.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Rusty Heap

They're candy to deer. nibble nibble

Hmmm ... I thought I read where they weren't a deer favorite. Lots of woods there, lots of other deer food options too (they'll eat just about anything).... but lots of deer .... I reckon I'll find out .

The other day I surprised a beautiful red fox that came outta the woods ....

[Baz]

Originally Posted by KC911

Baz? Anyone?

I know Sept is prime for planting, but how late can it be for planting them.... or should I wait until spring? I've got a few more to get in the ground this week, recovering from a sore back, but that's only half of my project... is getting the rest and planting them heading into Nov. OK .... or should I wait?

It's a freakin' chore .... prepping the holes in "almost like concrete" sandrock.... and slow going.

And my back still hurts

Thanks!

edited: Don't know if it matters, but these are in 10 gal containers and about 4' tall.

KC - sorry I don't know much about them nor planting scheduling for your area. Maybe get in touch with a landscape company in the area and get their take. And/or your local county extension office.

That said - with stuff like this you'll get a variety of opinions because everyone has their own philosophy and experiences.

So at the end of the day, like so many other things in life, you'll have to make your own decision based on your own instinct coupled with input from others.

Good luck and keep us posted!

[Baz]

Originally Posted by KC911

Thanks guys .... I'm planting them 3' apart (the recommendation from all sources that I've seen) and they'll get plenty of direct sun. It's the soil that I'm battling .... they need drainage and sandrock doesn't drain .... period .

A hole with water in it just won't drain .... so it's a chore to prep them.

...and then there is my back

I'll get there

Spacing sometimes depends on desired finished effect. Privacy? Usually plant closer together. 3' though......seems too close to me for a tree that gets that big.

Maybe 4' would be better. I would probably go 5-6' apart - but that's just me....

[KFC911]

Thanks Baz! These are supposed to only get 10-12' tall, and 3' was suggested by the guy at the nursery .... and I've already had all the holes augered (18" only tho) by a guy he recommemded.... but it's still a chore.

I will NOT quit my day job to plant trees for a living!

But since I don't have a day job

Keeps me from getting phat

Back to my "playing weight" as a youngin' .... down 30lbs since early July .... yay!

[greglepore]

Two things-while pretty hardy, they are not drought tolerant, so have a plan for that as a dead 10 ft arb in a couple years will be hard to replace in a manner that looks right. The other is the deer thing, they're like poptarts to deer when small...

[WPOZZZ]

You guys been talking to my ex in WA? She's into this arborvitae kick in replacing some and putting new ones in for more privacy. She never listens to me as she has a mind of her own. She went up to WA to look at her mom's house (they are all living in Hawaii for the past 4 years, she's been here for over 25 years.) It needed some work, but she got conned in redoing the whole exterior instead of repair work. So instead of $10k, she's on the way to 6 figures...on a house she is going to rent out!

[KFC911]

LOL .... naw ... I don't need pointers on being stoopid ....

I had NO idea what I was in for when I purchased the first batch and started digging the very first hole.

After 3 or so .... I called the "auger man" .... best $100 I've ever spent for him to come out and auger another 17 holes for me. The soil varies .... not all of them are THAT difficult, but I even considered renting a jackhammer.

If I go AWOL like Tabby has then y'all will know what happened to me!

Here lies KC, in the Fall breeze,
Big ol' dummy just croaked planting trees

[WPOZZZ]

Originally Posted by KC911

LOL .... naw ... I don't need pointers on being stoopid ....

I had NO idea what I was in for when I purchased the first batch and started digging the very first hole.

After 3 or so .... I called the "auger man" .... best $100 I've ever spent for him to come out and auger another 17 holes for me. The soil varies .... not all of them are THAT difficult, but I even considered renting a jackhammer.

If I go AWOL like Tabby has then y'all will know what happened to me!

Here lies KC, in the Fall breeze,
Big ol' dummy just croaked planting trees

$100 for 17 holes? The ex told me the guy from the nursery wants $50 per hole, plus $40 to plant each arborvitae.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by KC911

-snip-After 3 or so .... I called the "auger man" .... best $100 I've ever spent -snip-

Hand-held, 2 man- or PTO?

I used a one man hand held Earthquake for many many years and it's the cat's pajamas.

Church parking lot I did - by myself - 7 years ago....drip tubing irrigation for all the ornamental beds.....

[Crowbob]

Originally Posted by KC911

Hmmm ... I thought I read where they weren't a deer favorite. Lots of woods there, lots of other deer food options too (they'll eat just about anything).... but lots of deer .... I reckon I'll find out .

The other day I surprised a beautiful red fox that came outta the woods ....

Arbs are a staple for deer.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Crowbob

Arbs are a staple for deer.

I think I'll be fine ... EVERYTHING (just about) are staples for deer... they're not picky .

The "auger man" was recommended the the guy at the nursery (who's worked there 40 years) that supplies tons of trees, etc. for pros .... their "retail sales" to guys like me are inconsequential ... they've got about 500 emerald greens, and oodles of stuff that a counter customer will never even see. Probably acres and acres .... He will able to go select Maples, etc. (25 gal containers) and Green Giants that are a seperate project for me .... he charges $50/tree to select, deliver, and put them in the ground.

I didn't intend to use him for these "babies" .... but changed my mind after 3 holes

I have no problem counting out Benjamins for him .....

I'm stubborn .... but not stooopid!

Baz... a hand held auger would not make a dent in this sandrock .... he used his skid steer with an auger attachment.... cool guy.

He "worked me in" his lawn care business schedule within a couple days of me asking. And he stays very busy

Thanks all!

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by WPOZZZ

$100 for 17 holes? The ex told me the guy from the nursery wants $50 per hole, plus $40 to plant each arborvitae.

I forgot .... we had already discussed his rates, etc. for delivering & planting bigger stuff, so I didn't even ask what he'd charge for augering these. He interrupted his "real work", and dropped by with his skid steer and two of his lawn care guys. After knocking the holes out I asked him "how much do I owe ya?"

Him: Would you be offended if I said $100?

Naw