Cedars

Cedars explained

Garden Clippings for May 3, 2025

My guess is that it would have been 40 or 50 years ago that the original homeowner planted a row of Cedars along the east side of our yard. When Larry moved in next door 8 or 9 years ago, he planted 35 more, running along the entire length of our deep yards.

Cheryl and I are the lucky beneficiaries of the Cedar hedge. When we moved into our house 5 years ago we could see Larry’s backyard only if we stretched our necks over the Cedars. Today, they are 3 metres tall and provide better privacy than a wooden fence could ever give.

Not only do the Cedars give privacy, but they also block the wind and provide a landing spot for umpteen birds.

Cedars come in all shapes and sizes. Visit one of Canada’s largest wholesale growers, NVK Nurseries’ website and you will find 30 varieties listed, 10 of which are dwarf globe shaped, suitable for ornamental and foundation plantings.

Black Cedar (Thuja occidentalis ‘Nigra’) is most popular and most suited for a dependable hedge. Colour is deep green, and growth rate is nearly a foot per year. Black Cedar is a nursery favorite, because it is easy to grow, worry free, and reasonably priced. Plant Black Cedars 3 feet apart in a sunny or partially shaded location and they will quicky become a solid hedge.

Black Cedar will grow to 7 metres if left unattended and can be kept lower with periodic pruning. Its narrow upright growth habit will not take up significant width. Black Cedar prefers to grow in average to moist conditions and is tolerant of clay soils. In our backyard with sandy soil, we have the roots covered with a thick layer of mulch to keep the soil moist.

White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis) is a native tree similar to Black Cedar, but with a more informal shape and larger size at maturity. White Cedar is extremely hardy and can survive in both dry and swampy locations. White Cedar’s colour is natural green, turning slightly yellow in winter.

Emerald Cedar (Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’) is a narrow, pyramidal evergreen with emerald green foliage that keeps its colour through winter. Emerald Cedar is narrow, cone shaped, and not as suited for a hedge because its tips will always be tapered. Emerald Cedars are grown by the thousands in British Columbia where they grow a mile-a-minute. When shipped to Ontario, they are slow to establish and will require nurturing for the first few years after planting.

Degroot’s Spire Cedar (Thuja occidentalis ‘Degroot’s Spire’), is an ultra-slim, upright Cedar that makes a unique statement in home landscapes. It was selected and grown by Constance Degroot, a Belgian born horticulturist who joined the ranks of Sheridan Nurseries more than 100 years ago.

Other fast-growing Cedars suitable for hedging include Full Speed a Hedge (Thuja occidentalis ‘American Pillar’) and Skybound (Thuja occidentalis ‘Skybound’). Pyramidal Cedar (Thuja occidentalis ‘Fastigiata’) is a good choice for a slower growing tidy hedge with compact columnar form.