Our largest number of inquiries is in regard to the type of cedar to use as a privacy hedge.  Many new properties have been/are being developed on smaller lots thus requiring options to provide privacy while taking up as little yard space as possible. Cedars are a versatile plant that is both attractive and functional and requires relatively little maintenance.  They do well in full sun to partial shade and have a shallow, fibrous root system that makes them the ideal tree for planting around a pool or any other location with underground obstacles. The roots tend to go around objects, such as fence posts, rather than disturbing them.

There is the common misconception that cedars attract mosquitoes. Cedars tend to grow in moist conditions, just the type of environment mosquitoes thrive in. It is the case of the environment causing the mosquitoes to breed, not the cedars.  The key to eliminating mosquitoes is to remove standing water from a property if possible. Low areas with improper drainage and rain barrels are two of the most common breeding zones.

There are four options available that will provide the desired result and all share the same basic requirements in terms of habitat.  Average to moist soil conditions is preferred and the tree shouldn’t be allowed to dry out. No specific pH or soil type is necessary and cedars are mostly tolerant of urban conditions.  A relatively sheltered location is preferred to help limit desiccation and it is beneficial to apply mulch around the base to protect the exposed portion of the tree.  Growth over the first 2 years can be negligible as the root system gets established but from the 3rd year on can grow up to a 1’-1-1/2’ a year. All cedars take pruning well and are easy to form.

White Cedar:

The White Cedar is a tall pyramidal tree with a dense, strong central leader. It has an attractive reddish/brown bark and green foliage that tends to yellow in the winter months. Mature Ht. can reach 30’ with a spread of 20’ possible. Generally they are planted at an 18” spacing for trees up to 4’ tall and a 2’ spacing for trees 5’ and taller.

Field/Swamp Cedar:

Field Cedar is the common name for an Eastern White Cedar, the difference being that field cedars are dug as bare root specimens.   White cedars in contrast are pruned, groomed and shaped as they grow to give a full, uniform and conical shape.  The field cedar tends to have more sparse foliage and a tall, thin appearance upon planting.  Generally they are planted with a spacing of 1’ between trees per row.  Should a more full appearance be desired a second row is planted 1’ apart with an offset of 6” between trunks.

Black Cedar

The Black Cedar is a narrow, upright tree with a columnar growth habit. It is dense and multi-stemmed with dark green foliage that fades only slightly during the winter months. Mature Ht. can reach 20’ with a spread of 7’.  Generally they are planted at an 18” spacing for trees up to 4’ tall and a 2’ spacing for trees 5’ and taller.

Young specimens are often hard to distinguish from White cedars as they can have the same general appearance. The distinction becomes more apparent as the trees mature.

Emerald Cedar

The Emerald Cedar is dense, narrow upright tree with a columnar growth habit. The tendency is to be multi stemmed.  The foliage is a fine, and arranged in vertical sprays. The colour is a bright emerald green that is maintained through the winter months. Mature Ht. can reach 14’ with a spread of 4’.  A feature that sets the Emerald apart from the White and Black is the tendency to have the foliage grow to the ground thus limiting the need to have additional planting cover the base. (White and Black can have a gap of up to 1’ from the ground to the start of foliage at maturity) Generally they are planted at an 18” spacing for trees up to 4’ tall and a 2’ spacing for trees 5’ and taller.

Emerald cedars can be broken down into B.C. grown and Ontario grown to reflect the location they were grown in.  B.C. cedars tend be narrower than Ontario cedars of the same age as the more temperate climate is conducive to faster growth. Ontario cedars tend to have a more conical appearance with a wide base tapering to the tip.   The columnar form of the BC cedar  makes them desirable for hedging as they can be planted  more closely together limiting the gap toward the top.

Additional Options

Should the homeowner prefer an evergreen hedge other than cedar then there are two options available, Yews and Hemlocks. These are both good options, especially when partial shade is involved as they have the best tolerance of any tree/shrub for this condition.

Yews

Hicks and Hills yews are the two primary species utilized for the planting of privacy hedges. In addition they make a great background for planting other types of plant material.  The primary difference between Hills and Hicks yew is the absence of berries on the Hills, in fact it is the only member of the yew family to have this characteristic.  They have glossy, medium to dark green needle-like foliage and a dense, multi-stemmed   upright habit.  Yews are tolerant of most soil types, PH levels and urban pollution. They do not tolerate poor drainage and don’t like exposure to winter winds.  Mature Ht. can reach up to 18’ with a spread of 10’.  Both are very tolerant of pruning making them easy to shape. Foliage can be cut back into old wood as new growth can sprout from leafless wood making it possible to restore an overgrown hedge. Yews are also quick to heal after damage.  Of note is the poisonous nature of the plant parts if eaten.

Hemlocks

Hemlocks vary from cedars and yews in that they don’t form a traditional privacy fence due to the voids between the individual trees. Hemlocks have a conical shape they share with traditional evergreens such as the blue spruce thus preventing the upper portions of the trees from touching.  This provides a semi-permeable hedge that diffuses the view as opposed to blocking it. The major attribute of the Hemlock is the ability to grow in limited sunlight allowing it to grow under the canopy of taller trees.  Hemlocks prefer a rich, moist acidic soil and conditions of partial exposure as shelter is required against drying winds.  Standing water is not tolerated as is urban pollution eliminating them as a roadside planting option. Hemlocks have dark green foliage comprised of soft needles that hold the colour through the winter months. A mature Hemlock is a slow growing tree that can reach 60’tall with a spread of 30’.