Why Our Emerald Green Arborvitae Are Better

Emerald Green Arborvitae is loved for its versatility, and it’s easy to see why. Not only does a row of them make an excellent privacy screen, but it’s easy to shape its soft, thick foliage if you’re interested in topiary. However, the typical Emerald Green Arborvitae—the one sold at virtually every single nursery and big-box retailer across the country—is not without its downfalls. This is why you are going to absolutely fall in love with our Emerald Green Arborvitae Ice Spire

WHAT EXACTLY IS A LEADER?

As we all know, coniferous trees tend to grow in a pyramid shape. The central leader—the main trunk—emerges while the tree is still young, shooting straight up as it grows. Side branches then sprout from the central leader, filling out the tree. Without special training, however, many Emerald Green Arborvitaes develop multiple leaders. This can be both problematic and visually unappealing. 

MULTIPLE VS. SINGLE LEADER

Today, many Emerald Green Arborvitaes are grown with multiple leaders because it makes them look fuller, faster. But this shortcut is actually detrimental to the tree and often results in weakened structural integrity. For example, one leader may undergo a sudden growth spurt, which can easily destabilize under a heavy load of snow or ice. It could be permanently misshapen, if it doesn’t snap off altogether. Either way, it will drastically affect the shape of the tree. 

Addressing this problem—and a few others—is the Emerald Green Ice Spire. Exclusively grown for Bower & Branch by Decker’s Nursery in Ohio, this single leader Emerald Green Arborvitae shows the true value of taking the time to do something the right way—not the easy way. 

While multi-leader Emerald Greens may bend and break under snow or ice, the Emerald Green Ice Spire grows strong,  side branches that can evenly support the extra weight. Additionally, a multi-leader tree won’t look nearly as appealing in topiary, while a tree that only has one leader looks clean and sharp. It’s stunning in hedges, too, and it is better equipped to recover from damage caused by deer (Emerald Green Arborvitae is a deer magnet, after all!)

TRAINING ARBORVITAES

At Bower & Branch, we want you to succeed. The Emerald Green Ice Spire is a superior tree for your landscape, and it will set you up for success right from the beginning. After all, it’s impossible to correct growth and shaping issues on a tree that is already several years old. 

Training must start when the tree is very young, and it’s a slow process. It’s a known fact that it will take a longer amount of time for a single leader tree to fill out and become salable. However, once these trees reach their maximum potential, they’re much more likely to stand strong and tall for many, many years to come—and that’s what really matters! We take the time to do it the right way because we know that slow and steady wins the race, and the grower expertise that backs it up is absolutely invaluable.