How to Water Thuja Trees

Thuja, know also as arborvitae and white cedar, is an evergreen tree that is distinguishable by its scaly, finlike leaves and crumbly bark. Thuja are medium-sized landscape trees that reach up to 50 feet in height at maturity and have a pronounced spear or cone shape. Unlike some other evergreens, thuja requires regular irrigation at maturity.

Things You'll Need

• Garden hose
• Water
• Organic mulch

Instructions

1. Maintain moist soil for your thuja tree at all times to support normal growth patterns and prevent the leaves from browning. Once the tree is drought-stressed and the leaves brown, they cannot be restored to their green color with subsequent irrigation.

2. Establish a watering regimen that achieves moist to wet soil around your thuja year-round. In drier climates and or warmer climes this may translate into weekly watering, while in cooler or wetter climes, watering every three weeks to a month.

3. Err on the side of more water--not less--to keep your thuja growing and deep green in color. Never allow the soil to dry out below an inch or so of the top soil. Apply several inches of organic mulch around the base of the tree to limit moisture evaporation from the soil and reduce the frequency of irrigation.

References

• University of Connecticut: Thuja Information
• University of Montana: Thuja Summary