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The Daily Insight

How deep do Thuja roots go

Author

Emily Dawson

Published Mar 29, 2026

The major roots of a large arborvitae reach 18 to 24 inches deep, while the roots of smaller trees reach to 8 inches deep. Thuja Green Giant arborvitae (standishii x plicata) has replaced Leyland cypress as the landscaper’s plant of choice for an evergreen hedge or specimen tree.

Do Thuja trees have invasive roots?

Are the roots invasive? Thuja Green Giant roots are not known to be invasive or aggressive.

How far do Thuja Green Giant roots spread?

The roots of all trees are designed for drawing nutrient-rich water from the ground. However, the Green Giant’s roots also spread wide supporting the 60-foot tree against winds and snow.

Do Thuja trees have deep roots?

Arborvitae trees are not known for having deep roots. Instead, the roots are pretty shallow. … For smaller arborvitae varieties, the roots only extend to a depth of about 8 inches below ground. For larger trees, the root depth can reach 18 to 24 inches.

How far from a fence should I plant a Thuja Green Giant?

If your screen or hedge is against a building, plant 6 feet from the wall, to protect the foundations. If you are planting against a fence, plant 3 feet from the fence so that the lower part of the plants remains bushy and the hedge remains on your side of the property line.

How deep do you plant arborvitae trees?

Dig the planting hole 2 to 3 times as wide and as deep as the root ball. Loosen some of the roots in the root ball. Plant the arborvitae in the hole so that the top edge of the root ball is level with the top of the hole.

Can arborvitae roots damage Foundation?

No. The roots are unlikely to pose any issues and even less of a concern if the foundation is structurally sound. Arborvitaes are not even known to produce surface root that could lift or crack the sidewalk.

Is arborvitae invasive?

In the wild, arborvitae trees (also commonly called northern white cedars or eastern white cedars) can grow up to 60 feet tall. Some say this tree is an invasive species, but it’s still popular in home landscapes and urban settings. … Most urban arborvitae trees reach 20-30 feet.

How far do arborvitae roots spread?

Arborvitaes have a shallow, fibrous root system and this root system may spread to the edges of the dripline, which is the outer most circumference of the tree’s canopy. The roots of small arborvitae may reach depths of up to 8 inches while the roots of larger arborvitae may extend to depths of 18-24 inches.

Can I plant arborvitae next to House?

An arborvitae shrub usually spreads to a width of about 15 feet when fully grown, so planting it about 7 or 8 feet from a house, or half it’s mature width, is ideal.

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Can Thuja Green Giant grow in pots?

Like most plants, an “Emerald Green” arborvitae needs special care when planted in a pot. Select a large, ceramic pot that holds at least 20 gallons of potting soil. “Emerald Green” arborvitaes live 20 years or longer, so be sure to get a durable pot large enough to accommodate a full-size shrub.

Can Thuja be transplanted?

Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) covers many landscapes and is considered a highly desirable shrub or tree to use as an accent or break. … As far as transplanting, a young tree is much easier, although a mature tree can still be transplanted to a new location in your landscape with care.

How fast do arborvitae roots grow?

How fast do they grow per year? These trees grow about 1-2 feet per year until they are established. Then, they grow about 6-9 inches per year until they reach a maximum height of 10-15 feet.

Do Green Giant Arborvitae have deep roots?

The major roots of a large arborvitae reach 18 to 24 inches deep, while the roots of smaller trees reach to 8 inches deep. Thuja Green Giant arborvitae (standishii x plicata) has replaced Leyland cypress as the landscaper’s plant of choice for an evergreen hedge or specimen tree.

How tall do Thuja Green Giant trees get?

The green giant arborvitae grows to a height of 50–60′ and a spread of 12–20′ at maturity.

How close can a green giant be to property line?

A Word to the Wise: Along with height and fast growth comes width, so before planting Green Giant be sure you can give up 8 to 12 feet to this plant. Don’t put it two feet from your fence, or even from the property line. And use Green Giants sparingly.

Can you plant arborvitae near septic?

A common hedging plant for narrow spaces is pyramidal arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Fastigiata,’ or its greener cultivar ‘Emerald Green’). From my observation, it forms a dense root mass that would run into the septic field unless contained, but could provide a decent screen with a confined root run.

Can you trim arborvitae trees?

Like most conifers, arborvitaes will not produce new growth on older bare stems, so they don’t tolerate renovation or hard pruning. Cut into the brown, and it will stay that way. To maintain plant health, don’t remove any more than one-third of the live foliage area per growing season.

How close to a fence can you plant arborvitae?

Due to its tall height and expansive branches, many people like to plant this variety along fence lines to create privacy. Planting it about eight to ten feet from any structure is the ideal distance. This ensures the arborvitae can reach maximum width without damaging your house or fence.

How much space does arborvitae need?

The recommended spacing for Emerald Green Arborvitae Trees is 2-3 feet apart if you are using it for privacy. If you want quicker privacy, plant them about 2 feet apart. Emerald Green Arborvitae Trees typically grow about 3-4 feet wide.

Can arborvitae grow in raised beds?

If you check and find these conditions to also exist in the area where you desire to plant the Arborvitae then raising the bed for them is needed. To prevent root rot arborvitae, they should do fine if planted in at least 2 feet of well drained soil which can also remain just moist enough for the shrub’s needs.

How hard is it to dig up arborvitae?

Arborvitae Removal Is Never Easy, But It Can Be Easier In order to be able to get the chain around the trunk of the tree, the lower branches were cut, from the ground up leaving about 2 feet of the trunk exposed. … Arborvitae removal is not quite as simple as pulling fence posts.

How do you get rid of arborvitae stumps?

  1. Reduce the height of the shrub by lopping off trunks, a few feet at a time, until you can easily cut off the remaining stubs close to the ground. …
  2. Apply herbicide to cut stumps or scrape away bark into the soft underlying cambium around each stump.

How much do Arborvitaes grow in a year?

This tree grows at a slow to medium rate, with height increases of anywhere from less than 12″ to 24″ per year.

Is arborvitae native to us?

American arborvitae, (Thuja occidentalis), also called eastern arborvitae, or northern white cedar, ornamental and timber evergreen conifer of the cypress family (Cupressaceae), native to eastern North America.

Do arborvitae attract bugs?

Arborvitae face a variety of challenges with pests and disease. Pest problems include bagworms, scale, leafminers, and spider mites. Occasional disease issues such as tip blight can also occur. When plants are young or under stresses, it may also be a good idea to fertilize trees and shrubs on a regular basis.

How close to the fence can I plant a tree?

You should be able to dig a hole at least twice the size of the root ball and deep enough for the tree’s root system to fit entirely inside. For more mature trees this could result in needing to plant several feet away from the fence itself.

How many gallons of water does an arborvitae need?

Arborvitae need enough water to keep the well-drained soil around them moist; 10 gallons (37.85 liters) of water per inch of the tree’s diameter is recommended for established trees. The amount of water needed to attain this constant moisture depends on the climate, the age of your tree, and when it was planted.

When should I repot Thuja?

Repotting may be done in the spring, always before the first of June. Repot about every three years. The potting mix must be well draining. Thuja has very fine roots that will rake out quite easily.

Can you plant arborvitae in planter boxes?

Arborvitae is a good choice for landscape gardening or border plant but it does fairly well in the container too! … Growing as a shrub or tree, it’s easy to keep Arborvitae contained when you grow it in a container. Also, it’s easy to relocate or transplant the plant when it’s grown in containers.

Is there a dwarf arborvitae?

Dwarf globe arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) are small, needled evergreen shrubs that grow up to 4 feet tall. … Dwarf arborvitae is an excellent, low-maintenance option for landscapes that cannot accommodate the full-size tree that grows to 30 feet or more.