{"title":"Thuja and Arborvitae","description":"\u003cp\u003eThuja, or arborvitae, are evergreen conifers with flat sprays of soft, scale like foliage and a neat natural shape that needs little clipping. The range runs from compact golden globes for pots and borders, through narrow columns for formal hedges, to a full sized forest tree. Choose by mature size first, then by climate: the oriental arborvitae types handle more heat, while Emerald Green and Western Red Cedar are happiest where summers are mild and the soil stays moist.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to choose a thuja\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003ca href=\"\/products\/emerald-green-arborvitae-thuja-occidentalis-smaragd\"\u003eEmerald Green Arborvitae\u003c\/a\u003e, also sold as Smaragd, is a narrow column of bright green foliage that reaches 3 to 4 metres high and about a metre wide. It keeps its shape with almost no trimming and is the usual choice for a formal hedge, a pair at an entrance or a vertical accent.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003ca href=\"\/products\/golden-biota-thuja-orientalis-nana-aurea\"\u003eGolden Biota\u003c\/a\u003e and the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/morganii-oriental-arborvitae-thuja-orientalis-morgan\"\u003eMorganii Oriental Arborvitae\u003c\/a\u003e are compact oriental arborvitae, botanically Platycladus, with golden foliage held in upright fans. Both are slow, stay small for many years and take more heat than the other thujas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003ca href=\"\/products\/western-red-cedar-thuja-plicata\"\u003eWestern Red Cedar\u003c\/a\u003e is a different proposition: a large forest tree from north west America that can pass 20 metres in a cool, moist district. It belongs on a big property as a specimen, shelter belt or tall screen. The \u003ca href=\"\/products\/fastigiata-western-red-cedar-thuja-plicata-fastigiata\"\u003eFastigiata Western Red Cedar\u003c\/a\u003e is a narrower form of the same tree, better suited to a tall hedge or a line along a boundary.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere thuja works\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEmerald Green suits cool temperate and mild temperate climates, including Tasmania, Victoria, Canberra, the tablelands and the Adelaide Hills. It is fully frost hardy but scorches in hot, dry wind and is not a plant for the subtropics. Western Red Cedar needs the same cool conditions with reliable moisture and deep soil. The golden oriental types are the adaptable ones, growing well from cool districts through warm temperate gardens and into the milder subtropics, provided the drainage is good.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAll want full sun for dense growth, and the golden forms colour most strongly in sun. For other shapes and textures, see our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/conifers\"\u003econifers\u003c\/a\u003e, the \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/conifers-for-formal-gardens\"\u003econifers for formal gardens\u003c\/a\u003e and the \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/junipers\"\u003ejunipers\u003c\/a\u003e, which cope with drier soil.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting and spacing\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePlant in autumn or spring into well drained soil improved with compost. For a hedge of Emerald Green, space plants 60 to 80 centimetres apart. Set the Fastigiata Western Red Cedar 1 to 1.5 metres apart for a tall screen, and give a specimen Western Red Cedar at least 8 metres clear of buildings, pipes and other trees. The compact golden types need about a metre each, or one to a large pot. Mulch well and keep the mulch off the trunk.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCare basics\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWater deeply and regularly for the first two summers. Thuja have shallow, fibrous roots and brown from the inside if they dry out, so a mulch layer and a weekly soak in hot weather matter more than fertiliser. A slow release feed in spring is enough.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eClip little and often, from spring to early autumn, and take only the green tips. Never cut back into bare brown wood, because thuja does not reshoot from it and the gap stays for good. Start shaping a hedge while it is young instead of trying to reduce it later. Thuja is mildly toxic if eaten, so put the clippings in the green bin, not where animals graze.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow fast does Emerald Green thuja grow?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSteadily, at about 20 to 30 centimetres a year once established, in good soil with regular water.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy is my thuja going brown inside?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSome inner browning in autumn is normal shedding of old foliage. Browning at the tips usually points to dry roots or hot wind.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I cut a thuja hedge back hard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. It will not regrow from old brown wood, so trim lightly and regularly into green growth only.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWill thuja grow in a pot?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe compact golden types and Emerald Green do well in a large pot with quality mix and steady watering.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"golden-biota-thuja-orientalis-nana-aurea","title":"Golden Biota - Thuja orientalis 'Nana Aurea'","description":"\u003cp\u003eGolden Biota (\u003cem\u003ePlatycladus orientalis\u003c\/em\u003e 'Nana Aurea', still widely listed as \u003cem\u003eThuja orientalis\u003c\/em\u003e) is a dwarf conifer that holds a neat rounded egg shape without any clipping at all. It reaches about 1.5m tall and 1.2m wide, slowly, and the flattened sprays of foliage carry a warm gold tone that deepens through the cooler months. If you want formal structure in a dry garden without the pruning, this is the plant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe shape is built in.\u003c\/strong\u003e It grows as a tidy rounded egg on its own. No shearing, no wiring, no annual reshaping.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGold that lasts all year.\u003c\/strong\u003e The foliage holds its golden tone through every season and intensifies in cold weather.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDry, hot and poor ground suit it.\u003c\/strong\u003e Drought tolerant, heat tolerant, frost hardy and content in poor soil, so it is a genuine low water plant for an unirrigated bed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSlow and predictable.\u003c\/strong\u003e Reaching 1.5m takes years, so it stays in scale in a small bed or a pot far longer than a fast conifer would.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePots and formal entries.\u003c\/strong\u003e A matched pair in 400mm or larger pots frames a doorway or a flight of steps, and the shape stays true with no clipping. Container growing holds it closer to 1m.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBorders and rockeries.\u003c\/strong\u003e Repeated down a border it gives rhythm and winter structure, and in a rockery the gold reads well against grey stone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLow feature planting.\u003c\/strong\u003e Planted 1m apart in a line it makes a low informal edge between garden rooms. It is too small and too slow for screening, so use it for structure rather than privacy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Golden Biota in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun, which is what produces the gold. In shade the colour goes green and the shape opens up. It suits warm temperate, cool temperate, Mediterranean and arid or semi-arid gardens. It is not a plant for the humid tropics or subtropics, where persistent humidity encourages fungal problems in the dense interior foliage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Free draining is the only firm requirement, and it tolerates poor, stony ground that would starve other conifers. On heavy clay, plant on a raised mound, since wet winter soil is the most common cause of failure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water weekly through the first summer, then very little. Overwatering does more harm than a dry spell. A light application of slow release fertiliser in early spring is plenty.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Essentially none. Trim only to remove damaged growth, and stay within green foliage, because conifers of this type do not reshoot from old brown stems.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGolden Biota is grown here in tube stock and in 200mm pots sold in packs of six. Tube stock is a young plant of about 15 to 20cm, and given how slowly this conifer grows you should count on four to five years from a tube before it has real presence. The 200mm plants are two or three years ahead and the better buy if you want the shape to read now.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConifers travel well, though some interior browning after transit is normal and brushes out. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/conifers-growing-maintaining\"\u003eGrowing and maintaining conifers\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/conifers\"\u003eBrowse the full conifer range\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/rockery-plants\"\u003ePlants suited to rockeries and dry beds\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/topiary-and-shaping-plants\"\u003eCompare plants for formal shapes\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow fast does it grow?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSlowly, and that is a feature rather than a fault. Expect roughly 10 to 15cm a year in good conditions, which means several years before it approaches its mature 1.5m.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes it need clipping to keep its shape?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. The rounded egg form is natural. Trim only to tidy damage, and stay within green foliage, since cuts into bare brown wood will not reshoot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIs it safe around pets?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Conifer foliage is toxic to cats and dogs if chewed, and the oils irritate the mouth and stomach. Keep potted plants out of reach of a pet that chews foliage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube","offer_id":44760634982719,"sku":"THU-ORI-NANAUR-tube","price":14.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"200mm (Pack of 6)","offer_id":54140106047807,"sku":"THU-ORI-NANAUR-200MM-P6","price":247.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"300mm","offer_id":55100281389375,"sku":"THU-ORI-NANAUR-300MM","price":154.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/Golden-Biota-Thuja-orientalis-Nana-Aurea.png?v=1794661535"},{"product_id":"morganii-oriental-arborvitae-thuja-orientalis-morgan","title":"Morganii Oriental Arborvitae - Thuja orientalis 'Morgan'","description":"\u003cp\u003eMorganii Oriental Arborvitae (\u003cem\u003ePlatycladus orientalis\u003c\/em\u003e 'Morgan', still widely sold as Thuja orientalis) is a slow growing golden conifer that forms a neat upright column about 2.4m tall and 1.2m wide. The soft vertical sprays hold a bright lime gold through the warm months, then shift to a rich coppery bronze over winter, so the plant changes character with the seasons without losing its shape. Few conifers stay small enough for a courtyard yet formal enough for a clipped hedge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColour that changes with the season.\u003c\/strong\u003e Golden through spring and summer, coppery bronze through winter, with nothing to deadhead.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNaturally columnar.\u003c\/strong\u003e The upright habit holds a tidy shape with almost no shearing, unlike hedges needing three cuts a year to stay narrow.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOnly 1.2m wide.\u003c\/strong\u003e A narrow footprint suits a side boundary, a driveway edge or a bed too tight for a broad shrub.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTakes shaping well.\u003c\/strong\u003e Dense enough to clip into a cone, a column or a matched pair of formal sentries at an entry.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNarrow hedging and screening.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 60cm apart for a narrow hedge. The columns knit into a continuous gold wall around 2.4m high without pushing more than 1.2m into the bed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTopiary and formal shaping.\u003c\/strong\u003e The fine dense foliage responds well to clipping, holding a crisp cone or spiral better than most conifers of this size.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePots and small gardens.\u003c\/strong\u003e A 400mm or larger pot suits it, and container growing keeps it around 1.5m to 2m.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Morganii Oriental Arborvitae in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun brings out the gold; in shade the colour dulls towards flat green and the habit opens up. It suits warm temperate, cool temperate, Mediterranean and arid or semi arid gardens: Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra and inland districts. Humid tropical and subtropical gardens are the exception, where heat and moisture encourage fungal problems.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Free draining soil is essential. It handles a range of types but will not forgive waterlogging. On clay, plant on a raised mound and improve the bed with compost and coarse sand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Water deeply twice a week through the first summer, then only occasionally in dry spells. A slow release fertiliser in early spring keeps the gold strong. Overwatering causes far more decline than drought.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Light and often is the rule. Trim in late spring and again in late summer for a formal finish, staying within the green outer growth. Conifers of this type do not reshoot from bare inner wood, so cutting into old timber leaves a permanent gap.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is grown in 140mm packs of ten, 200mm packs of six and 300mm pots. The 140mm and 200mm packs are the sensible way to buy a hedge run, since the plants are young, uniform and quick to settle. A 300mm plant gives more presence straight away.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a slow growing conifer, and that patience is the price of how tidy it stays. Expect roughly 15cm to 25cm of height a year, so a hedge from 200mm stock takes four to five years to reach full height. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/conifers-growing-maintaining\"\u003eHow to grow and maintain conifers\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/conifers\"\u003eBrowse the full conifer range\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/topiary-and-shaping-plants\"\u003eCompare plants suited to topiary and shaping\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/tall-narrow-screening-plants\"\u003eSee more tall and narrow screening plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow far apart should I plant it for a hedge?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpace plants 60cm apart in a single row. Because each plant is naturally columnar and only 1.2m wide, that spacing closes the gaps without crowding roots or restricting airflow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy has the foliage turned bronze?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat is normal seasonal behaviour, not a problem. The golden summer foliage takes on a coppery bronze tone through the cold months and greens up again as the weather warms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I cut it back hard to reduce its size?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Like most conifers it will not reshoot from bare brown wood, so hard pruning leaves permanent bare patches. Trim little and often within the green growth instead.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"140mm (Pack of 10)","offer_id":44210817270079,"sku":"THU-ORI-MOR-140MM-P10","price":196.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"200mm (Pack of 6)","offer_id":44210817302847,"sku":"THU-ORI-MOR-200MM-P6","price":200.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"300mm","offer_id":54140107587903,"sku":"THU-ORI-MOR-300MM","price":148.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/Morganii-Oriental-Arborvitae-Thuja-orientalis-Morgan.jpg?v=1741857844"},{"product_id":"emerald-green-arborvitae-thuja-occidentalis-smaragd","title":"Emerald Green Arborvitae - Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd'","description":"\u003cp\u003eEmerald Green Arborvitae (\u003cem\u003eThuja occidentalis\u003c\/em\u003e 'Smaragd') is the answer when you need height on a boundary and have almost no width to give it. It grows to about 4m tall but only 1.2m across, holding a dense bright green column without a frame and without hard pruning. Planted 60cm apart it forms a formal screen that reads more like a wall than a row of shrubs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeight without the footprint.\u003c\/strong\u003e Four metres of screening from a plant only 1.2m wide, so it fits beside a driveway or in a bed a metre deep.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIt holds its own shape.\u003c\/strong\u003e The naturally conical, tightly furnished habit gives a tidy screen without shearing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCold and wind are not a problem.\u003c\/strong\u003e Frost hardy and wind tolerant, which is why it performs in southern gardens where many evergreen screens struggle.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDrought tolerant once settled.\u003c\/strong\u003e After two summers it asks far less water than a comparable broadleaf hedge.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eKeep it away from pets.\u003c\/strong\u003e The foliage contains thujone and is toxic to cats and dogs if eaten.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNarrow screening and privacy.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 60cm apart in a single row. The tight spacing is deliberate: these plants are narrow, so they need to be close to close the gaps. Expect a solid face within three to four seasons.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormal hedging and shaping.\u003c\/strong\u003e Fine even foliage holds a sharper clipped line than most broadleaf alternatives, and it takes topiary work well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePots and entries.\u003c\/strong\u003e A 500mm or larger pot carries a plant to around 2m, and a matched pair either side of a doorway is the classic use. Keep the water up, because containers dry fast.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Emerald Green Arborvitae in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun, all day if you can manage it. This is a plant for cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens: Victoria, the southern tablelands, Adelaide, Perth and cooler districts of New South Wales. It dislikes humid subtropical summers and browns off from the inside in warm northern coastal gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Drainage matters more than fertility. On heavy clay, plant on a raised mound with compost and coarse grit worked through, because wet feet over summer is the usual cause of failure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Deep soak twice a week through the first two summers, then taper to occasional watering in dry spells. Never let a young plant dry out completely, because brown patches on a conifer do not reshoot. A slow release fertiliser in early spring is enough.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Light trimming in spring and again in early autumn if you want a formal face. Always stay within the green growth, because cutting into bare old wood leaves a permanent hole.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is grown in 140mm packs of ten, 200mm packs of six, 250mm packs of three, single 300mm plants and advanced 400mm stock. Multipacks are the value option for a long boundary and catch up within a few years. The 300mm and 400mm sizes arrive with real height and suit a short run or a pair of pots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlants travel upright and are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Growth is steady rather than quick, which is why the finished hedge stays manageable. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hedging-screening\"\u003eCompare hedging and screening plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/trees\"\u003eBrowse the full range of trees by mature size\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/planting-tips-how-to-grow-a-beautiful-garden\"\u003eHow to prepare a garden bed before planting\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow far apart should I plant it for a hedge?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSixty centimetres apart in a single row. These plants are narrow, so the usual one metre hedge spacing leaves gaps that take years to close over.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow fast does it grow?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbout 20cm to 30cm a year, so allow five to seven years to take a 200mm plant to a 2m screen. Larger stock shortens that considerably.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it grow in a humid subtropical garden?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot well. It is built for cool and temperate climates and resents humid summers, which shows up as browning inside the plant. In warm humid coastal gardens a lilly pilly is the better investment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"140mm (Pack of 10)","offer_id":54140130263359,"sku":"THU-OCC-SMA-140MM-P10","price":181.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"200mm (Pack of 6)","offer_id":54140130296127,"sku":"THU-OCC-SMA-200MM-P6","price":222.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"300mm","offer_id":44965648761151,"sku":"THU-OCC-SMA-300MM","price":148.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"400mm","offer_id":54140130361663,"sku":"THU-OCC-SMA-400MM","price":420.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"500mm","offer_id":55100367438143,"sku":"THU-OCC-SMA-500MM","price":1072.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/Emerald-Green-Arborvitae-Thuja-occidentalis-Smaragd.png?v=1794661891"},{"product_id":"western-red-cedar-thuja-plicata","title":"Western Red Cedar - Thuja plicata","description":"\u003cp\u003eWestern Red Cedar is the conifer for a tall green wall you need soon. \u003cem\u003eThuja plicata\u003c\/em\u003e reaches around 12m tall and 4m wide over ten to fifteen years, fast for a conifer, and holds soft flat sprays of aromatic foliage to ground level. Clipped, it is one of the densest formal hedges for cool and warm temperate climates.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeight quickly.\u003c\/strong\u003e Fast by conifer standards: a screen blocking a two storey outlook takes five to seven years, not twenty.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDense to the ground.\u003c\/strong\u003e Overlapping flat sprays from the base up, without the bare ankles many screening trees develop.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHandles wind and wet ground.\u003c\/strong\u003e Happy in soil that stays damp, which rules most conifers out.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAromatic and evergreen.\u003c\/strong\u003e Crushed foliage smells of pineapple and cedar, and the colour holds all winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTall screening and hedging.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 1.5m apart in a single row for a dense screen, which suits a hedge held between 3m and 6m. Stretch to 2m for a full height screen belt.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWindbreaks.\u003c\/strong\u003e A staggered double row at 1.5m filters wind rather than blocking it, which is what protects the garden behind.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormal shapes.\u003c\/strong\u003e It takes to topiary and clipped columns, so a driveway sentinel pair or a formal block works.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Western Red Cedar in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun to light shade. A cool and warm temperate plant: Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra, the tablelands and southern Western Australia all suit it. Frost hardy, but not for tropical or humid subtropical gardens, where heat and humidity thin it out.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Deep, moist, slightly acidic soil is ideal, and unusually for a conifer it tolerates wet ground. It will not tolerate drought, so avoid shallow sand that bakes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e The demanding part. Water deeply through the first two summers, since a dry check browns foliage that may not regrow. Mulch 75mm deep and feed a slow release fertiliser in early spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Trim twice a year, in late spring and late summer, always cutting within the green foliage. Cutting into bare brown wood leaves a permanent hole. Shape it early and it stays easy for decades.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGrown in 400mm pots: established young trees with a formed leader, typically well over a metre tall, so a new hedge line reads as a hedge from day one. Expect 500mm to 800mm of growth a year once established with reliable moisture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTrees travel upright and may bronze slightly after a few days in a box, greening up within a fortnight. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/conifers-growing-maintaining\"\u003eGrowing and maintaining conifers\u003c\/a\u003e, including trimming without bare patches.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/conifers\"\u003eBrowse the full conifer range\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/tall-narrow-screening-plants\"\u003eTall and narrow screening plants\u003c\/a\u003e for boundaries under 3m.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-windbreaks\"\u003eWindbreak planting\u003c\/a\u003e for exposed and rural sites.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow tall will it actually get?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAround 12m over ten to fifteen years untouched, and more given time, since it reaches 30m in native North America. Trimmed twice a year it sits between 3m and 6m.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIs it safe for pets and livestock?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. The foliage contains thujone, which is toxic if chewed or eaten, so keep it away from horse paddocks, stock yards and dogs that chew greenery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I grow it in Brisbane or Darwin?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe would not recommend it. It belongs in cool and warm temperate gardens, and sustained tropical heat and humidity leave it thin and stressed. Choose a native screening tree instead.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"200mm (Pack of 6)","offer_id":55100370682175,"sku":"THU-PLI-200MM-P6","price":235.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"300mm","offer_id":55100370714943,"sku":"THU-PLI-300MM","price":181.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"400mm","offer_id":50440298627391,"sku":"THU-PLI-400MM","price":594.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"500mm","offer_id":55100370813247,"sku":"THU-PLI-500MM","price":610.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100L","offer_id":55100370846015,"sku":"THU-PLI-100L","price":962.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/Western-Red-Cedar-Thuja-plicata.png?v=1794661903"},{"product_id":"fastigiata-western-red-cedar-thuja-plicata-fastigiata","title":"Fastigiata Western Red Cedar - Thuja plicata 'Fastigiata'","description":"\u003cp\u003eFastigiata Western Red Cedar (\u003cem\u003eThuja plicata\u003c\/em\u003e 'Fastigiata') is a tall, slender, fast-growing conifer with a neat conical shape and aromatic, deep green foliage. It reaches 10m to 12m but only 1.5m to 2.5m wide, so it fits where a broad tree will not. It is a mild-climate tree from the Pacific north-west of North America and it wants regular water.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNarrow and upright.\u003c\/strong\u003e 'Fastigiata' means growing upright and parallel, so this form is slimmer than the usual western red cedar.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eScented, ferny foliage.\u003c\/strong\u003e Dense overlapping foliage looks plaited up close and releases a pleasant aroma when brushed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBushy to the ground.\u003c\/strong\u003e It holds its foliage right down to the base, which makes a genuine screen rather than a row of bare trunks.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCold hardy and long lived.\u003c\/strong\u003e It is frost hardy, and individual trees of the species can live for more than a thousand years.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTakes pruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Unlike most conifers, thuja can be pruned, so it can be shaped if you need to.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNarrow screening.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 1.5m apart in a single row for a tall, dense screen that takes up little width.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWindbreaks.\u003c\/strong\u003e The dense foliage from the ground up filters wind well, especially in cooler, wetter gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFeature planting.\u003c\/strong\u003e A single tree makes a strong vertical accent at a gate, a corner or the end of a view.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLarge pots.\u003c\/strong\u003e While young it can live in a large container, and it doubles as a living Christmas tree.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Fastigiata Western Red Cedar in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun to shade, with regular rain or watering. It suits cool temperate gardens best, and it is worth trying in warm temperate gardens where moisture is reliable. In Australia it is rarely found north of Sydney, so its tolerance of heat and humidity is untested, and we would not plant it in the tropics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e It tolerates most soil types, even wet soils. Moist soil rich in organic matter suits it best.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Mulch and water well, especially during dry periods, because it does not like drought. Keep the roots mulched and moist through summer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e Pruning is seldom needed beyond ornamental shaping. The foliage is aromatic and not for eating, so keep clippings away from pets and livestock.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe sell Fastigiata Western Red Cedar as tube stock and in single 300mm pots. Tube stock is a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly and is the economical way to plant a long screen. The 300mm plant is taller and gives a boundary a head start. This is a long-term tree, so plant it where 10m of height will suit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/conifers\"\u003eBrowse our conifer range\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/tall-narrow-screening-plants\"\u003eTall and narrow screening plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-windbreaks\"\u003ePlants for windbreaks\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/conifers-growing-maintaining\"\u003eHow to grow and care for conifers\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow wide does it get?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnly 1.5m to 2.5m, even though it reaches 10m to 12m tall. That narrow, conical shape is the point of the 'Fastigiata' form.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill it grow in a hot, dry garden?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProbably not well. It likes regular rain or watering and does not like drought, and its tolerance of heat and humidity in Australia is untested, so it is best in mild, moist climates.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I keep it in a pot?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, while it is young. A large container and regular watering work well, and many people use it as a living Christmas tree before planting it out.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube","offer_id":67789642432831,"sku":"THU-PLI-FASTIG-tube","price":14.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"300mm","offer_id":67789642465599,"sku":"THU-PLI-FASTIG-300MM","price":181.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/fastigiata-western-red-cedar-thuja-plicata-fastigiata.jpg?v=1792192674"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/collections\/Emerald-Green-Arborvitae-Thuja-occidentalis-Smaragd.jpg?v=1794696322","url":"https:\/\/nurserynearme.com.au\/collections\/thuja.oembed","provider":"Nursery Near Me","version":"1.0","type":"link"}