Question
I planted a row of Emerald green a long the property line in early spring, but two of them close to a neighbors pine tree have died and a third one is looking sick. Can Emeralds be grown close to pine trees? Is anything I can do to keep the other emerald to grow? Is any other plant that can grow next to the pine?

Thanks for your help.

Jose Freire


Answer
I'm assuming you are talking about the "Emerald Green" Thuja.

Information here:
http://www.thujagardens.com/EmeraldGreen.html

It should do fine next to a pine tree.  It isn't particularly sensitive to pH, and actually like it a little on the acidic side.  

It does require being planted in the right zone (USDA zone 3 to 8), and to keep it green, it must have fertilizer & watering in the winter.  I use standard a general-purpose Ortho plant fertilizer (10-10-10), but any with nitrogen will do.  Thuja tends to look yellow/brown in poor soil - and we've got that in spades, here!

I have found it has a high mortality rate in our area, but is cheap to replace if it dies ($9.95 at Home Depot for a 4-foot plant)...I'd replace your three dead/poor performing plants now, and give it another season of growing before considering another plant.

Regards ~M