Source: F. D. Richards
North Pole Arborvitae is your best bet if you’re looking for a low-maintenance evergreen that makes a good privacy screen or hedge. It is a coniferous shrub that grows slowly and has needle-like leaves that are shiny green above and white underneath.
Due to its color scheme, it adds beauty to your environment during the winter. It’s critical to comprehend the arborvitae’s requirements for water, sunshine, and fertilizer when developing and caring for it.
This post will go over growing North Pole Arborvitae, how to take care of it, and when to trim and fertilize it.
What Is North Pole Arborvitae?
North Pole Arborvitae is a broad and dense tree with an oval shape that appears more expansive than tall. Its branches grow upward and then spread out to create a weeping canopy. The leaves are dark green on top and white underneath, giving them a two-toned appearance.
The tree has an attractive scent when its needle-like leaves are crushed or cut. This ornamental shrub can be used as an accent or border plant and will make a great addition to your landscape year-round.
North Pole Arborvitae trees can grow to 15 feet and spread to as much as 5 feet from the center. They can be planted in various locations, including full sun to partial shade. They prefer well-drained soil and like to be watered regularly during their first year after planting.
To incorporate the North pole arborvitae in your garden, put matching pair on either side of your front door to form a garden path to your home. Use them as landscaping accents in your yard, or plant them in a line along the driveway for a decorative border.
How To Grow the North Pole Arborvitae?
The first step is to choose a location for your North Pole Arborvitae. They prefer full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. Once you’ve found the perfect spot, dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball of your tree.
Once the hole is ready, plant the arborvitae by placing its root ball to fill up most of the hole, leaving only a little room at the top. Next, backfill the root ball with soil and gently firm it down so there are no air pockets.
Finally, water your tree thoroughly and mulch around its base to help retain moisture in the soil during dry periods.
Basic Care of North Pole Arborvitae
The right light, water, and pruning are all essential for the North Pole Arborvitae to thrive. Here are some basic requirements to help you keep your arborvitae healthy.
Requirement #1: Watering
North Pole Arborvitaes can suffer stress if either overwatered or underwater. If your plant needles start turning yellow, brown, or dropping off—you’ve got some watering to do.
To keep newly planted shrubs well watered, give them about an inch of water a week during the growing season. Keep the soil evenly moist but not saturated. Less frequent watering will be needed as roots become established.
Requirement #2: Light
North Pole Arborvitae needs full sun and very little shade. Light is essential for the plant to photosynthesize, which it does all winter long as it stores energy in its needles.
Too much shade and your arborvitae leaves will lose color, weaken, and start to fall off.
Requirement #3: Fertilizing
North Pole Arborvitae rarely requires fertilizer when planted in suitable soil and given enough water and sunlight. However, if new growth becomes scarce or your soil is less than optimal, you may need to boost the soil with fertilizer.
To increase the soil nutrient, use a slow-release fertilizer in the early spring and again in late summer. If your soil is poor, adding compost will help keep it healthy.
Requirement #4: Pruning
Prune off any dead or damaged branches with pruning shears or clippers. The best time to prune is in late winter or early spring before new leaves appear.
Cut back branches crossing, rubbing against each other, or growing into the center of the plant. You can also remove diseased branches but only cut off one-third of your plant at a time.
Requirement #5: Winter
During the winter, heavy snow can cause the long North pole arborvitaes to bend and break. Remove heavy snow with a broom before it accumulates and weighs down the branches.
When the wind damages arborvitae, it may need to be propped up or staked to keep its shape. Storm-damaged arborvitaes can often be rejuvenated—by tying them upright and pruning off dead branches, if necessary.
Diseases and Pest Management for North Pole Arborvitae
North pole Arborvitae is an evergreen plant but can be prone to infection, particularly in warm and humid climates.
The most common disease of North pole arborvitae are:
- Verticillium wilt
- Gummosis
- Phomopsis twig blight
- Kabatina twig blight
- Fusarium wilt
Most tree diseases are caused by fungi that enter the plant through wounds in the bark. The symptoms are wilting of needles at branch tips, yellowing leaves, and browning stems.
Eliminating the infected twigs and branches can help prevent the fungus from spreading, while coating affected areas with fungicide may prevent it from getting worse.
North Pole Arborvitae Pest Management
Pests that can cause problems include scale insects, mites, and aphids.
Scale insects are immobile and may be red or brown. They can be found on the underside of needles and in bark crevices. You can remove them by wiping them off with a cloth dipped in rubbing alcohol or using a cotton swab dipped in malathion. However, this will not kill eggs laid on the plant.
Mites are microscopic but visible to the naked eye as tiny dots moving across leaves or branches. You can use horticultural oil, neem oil, or insecticidal soap to kill mites and their eggs.
Aphids are tiny insects that suck the sap from needles, causing them to curl up and turn brown. You can treat infestations with a spray containing pyrethrin or rotenone.
Deer and red squirrels love to forage on North pole arborvitae. Use a motion-sensor sprinkler to keep deer away from your garden. For the red squirrels, you can try placing aluminum foil balls on the ground around your plant.
Conclusion
North pole arborvitae is a versatile evergreen, making it an ideal addition to your yard. It’s also easy to care for and pest-resistant, which makes it a great choice if you are new to gardening or don’t want too much maintenance on your hands.
Remember to grow your arborvitae in full sun and water it regularly. It can also benefit from a layer of mulch to help retain moisture around the base of the plant.
