What to Add to Clay Soil When Planting Emerald Green Thuja

About Thuja

• Arbovitae grows best in moist soils, but is not particular about acidity or alkalinity. It can adapt a wide variety of soil types, even those that are rocky or sterile. Arbovitae trees prefer full to partial sun exposure and are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 3 to 7. They are a favorite food of deer and other mammals during the winter months and provide cover for many bird species. Their leaves are soft and form flattened sprays. Some varieties can grow to 30 feet tall.

Emerald Green Thuja

• The Emerald Green variety of Thuja occidentalis grows in a pyramidal shape make it a good choice for privacy screening. It grows to 15 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide so should be planted no less than 3 feet apart. It has a moderate growth pattern, generally adding 6 to 12 inches per year. Thought this tree requires little maintenance, it should be watered deeply in dry weather and mulched around the roots to hold the moisture.

Planting in Clay Soils

• Problems can arise when trees and shrubs are planted in clay soils which drain poorly. Regardless of the size of the hole dug for a tree or shrub, the clay will hold the water for some time, limiting the amount of oxygen available to plant roots and contributing to rotting problems, according to the North Carolina State University site. Adding organic amendments such as compost, rotted leaves, peat moss or straw helps to break up the tightly-compacted clay material.

Amending Clay Soils For Emerald Green Thuja

• Though Emerald Green thuja is not particularly fussy about soil composition, like other plants, it can develop root problems if allowed to stand in wet, heavy clay soils. Work the organic soil amendment carefully into the top 4 to 6 inches of the soil to provide air pockets for the tree roots, which allows the soil to drain more thoroughly. Amendments should be added at a rate of 3 cubic yards of amendment per 1000 square feet, according to Colorado State University soil specialists J. G. Davis and C. R. Wilson.