How to Care for an Arborvitae Green Giant Evergreen Beauty

Overview

Green giant evergreen beauty arborvitae are hardy, drought-tolerant, pest-resistant trees. They can grow up to 5 feet in a single year and become a rich, green privacy screen quickly. Although arborvitae require some extra attention for the first two years, once they established, they require little care.

Step 1

Water arbortvitae deeply every two to three weeks, especially during the first few years. After the arborvitae is established, water it only during hot, dry weather.

Step 2

Spread a layer of organic mulch around arborvitae every fall. This protects the root system from cold weather. Use mulch to enrich the soil as it decomposes.

Step 3

Fertilize green giant arborvitae in spring, using fertilizer formulated especially for evergreens. Apply the fertilizer according to the directions on the label.

Step 4

Prune green giant arborvitae lightly, if needed. Prune only at the growing points, which will be light green. Remove dead branches that develop in the center of the plant by pulling them out with your hands. It's normal for the oldest, innermost branches to die away as the tree matures.