How Much Does Emerald Arborvitae Grow in a Year?

Uses

• "Emerald Green" arborvitae is among the most popular hedge plants used for screening on the West Coast, according to an article on Washington State University Clark County Extension's website. A row of the trees can help define a yard or block a yard from neighbors' views. The tree also provides a decent amount of shade; placed strategically, it can create shade in different areas of a yard to keep them cooler than they would be otherwise in hot weather.

Vertical Growth

• If immediate privacy is your goal, don't look to "Emerald Green" arborvitae to fulfill your need. As a slow- to moderate-grower, it typically grows about 4 to 9 inches in height each year. The growth rate might differ slightly each year based on temperature and available water, but the tree usually grows fairly steadily. In a best-case scenario, a 4-foot tree that grows 9 inches per year take eight years to reach 10 feet tall. Most "Emerald Green" arborvitaes attain a height of about 15 feet when fully grown.

Horizontal Spread

• Height isn't the only consideration when creating a fence of living trees. The trees must be wide enough to hide the area from view. An "Emerald Green" arborvitae spreads 2 to 6 inches per year, increasing width slightly as it grows taller. Most of these trees end up 4 to 5 feet wide at full growth. Planting the young trees about 3 feet apart prevents them from being overcrowded when they are mature. That distance usually leaves a small amount of space between the branches of full-grown "Emerald Green" arborvitaes. If you want more privacy, plant the trees 2 feet apart, but trees that distance from each other may need to be watered slightly more often than trees farther apart because their roots are more likely to compete with each other for moisture.

Comparison

• Although a potential of 9 inches in height per year may seem significant for a tree, "Emerald Green" arborvitae grows much slower than some similar evergreens. The leyland cypress (X Cuprocyparis leylandii), for example, can grow up to 3 feet per year; it is hardy in USDA zones 6 through 10. That tree often grows 60 to 70 feet tall and has a spread up to 15 feet. The "Green Giant" arborvitae (Thuja "Green Giant"), hardy in USDA zones 5 through 8, grows 3 to 4 feet per year up to a height of 60 feet, and its spread is up to 18 feet. Those fast-growing but large trees may not fit your space needs; having a slower-growing but smaller mature tree may be worth the wait.