Question
I live in British Columbia, Canada and I'm trying to transplant 4 cedar trees (approx 4 feet high by about a foot thick).  I bought them from a well known nursery here but didn't get much advice.  They are going in sandy soil and I have some white "peameal" or similar pellets to put in the hole.  Sory I can't identify the exact species of cedar but it's pretty standard looking.  I want to keep them 4 -5 feet tall so I don't want rampant growth - just thyem to stay healthy.  Any advise on planting and trimming ???
Dave Gale from British Columbia, Canada

Answer
Dig the hole twice the size of the root ball and as deep and fill with good top soil or potting soil. Remove the burlap and wire before you cover the rootball. Plant so the top of the rootball is at ground level. Mulch around the tree with not more than 3 inches deep of organic mulch not piled up on the trunk. I would not add the pellets. Gravel is sometimes added to help with drainage in clay soils not a problem in sandy soil. I would not fertilize for the first year so the root system can get a good hold. You can prune the-like giving them a hair cut to keep them from growing too tall or wide.

 
Cedar trees must be pruned with care and a certain amount of restraint. Cedar tress produce new growth only from last year's growth, so if too much is trimmed it is possible to prevent any new growth and kill the tree. Cedar trees should be pruned only prior to the summer months. Once the buds for new growth have appeared, usually in mid July, cedars cannot be pruned without the risk of preventing next year's new growth and killing the tree.




Cut out all dead or diseased wood, cutting as far back as possible. Wear eye protection and gloves when trimming.


Identify new growth (green# and old growth #brown). Use shears or saw to cut only as much of the green growth as necessary to shape the tree. At least 1 inch of green growth must be left on EVERY branch that is cut. If all green growth is trimmed out, that branch will likely die.


Cut away branches growing straight down and branches growing sideways through the crown of the tree. This will open the crown to light and additional air circulation.

I really would not cut the top unless you want a bushy type tree. You may lose the pointed effect of the cedar IF THE TOP IS CUT. but IF YOU DO
Cut no more than 1/4 of the tree's height when topping a cedar. After removing no more than 1/4 of the trunk, carefully trim branches, being careful to leave at least one inch of green growth on the end of each remaining branch.