A neglected arborvitae can easily become too large for its space, without enough green margin for pruning. In nature, arborvitaes can reach 50 to 70 feet tall and 30 feet wide.

Late winter or early spring is generally the best time to prune conifers (needled evergreens) such as arborvitae, but these plants do not respond well to heavy pruning at any time of the year.

Arborvitae also pair well with tall flowering shrubs (viburnum, ninebark, tree-type hydrangeas, crape myrtles, etc.) Size-wise, it's true arborvitae will grow 1 to 2 feet per year.

Are you looking to add a bit of privacy to your backyard? Maybe you’d like to block the view of a neighbor’s unsightly shed, ...

Arborvitae is ubiquitous as a hedging plant, but too few people recognize how great it is in isolated splendor. A single, vibrantly green arborvitae would look terrific as the largest item in a small ...

Many trees and shrubs — arborvitae included — are very sensitive to dry spells, he says. “By the time these plants are stressed to the point that they look like they are dying, it’s ...

I have a problem with my emerald arborvitae shrubs. Several years ago I planted six of these shrubs along my driveway. I also planted one in the back yard against the house and two others in the ...

The arborvitae regained their structure and were still standing tall many decades later. Deciduous (leafy) shrubs that are flattened by snow and ice are better able to rebound than evergreens.

EASY TO GROW Arborvitae are not difficult to grow; given proper care and pruning they'll live for years. They can be grown in a variety of soils and will flourish in full sun or partial shade.

Sooner or later, there will be a big snow. When heavy snow is caught in the needles of evergreen shrubs, it can sometimes bend their branches alarmingly. Usually, the alarm is unnecessary. “M… ...

Q: I need to prune an arborvitae hedge because it is too tall. I’d like to remove 3 or 4 feet off the top of these shrubs. When is the best time to prune them?