Question
Audrey,
We have been planting aborvitie shrubs since 1993 all sizes and bigger and better. Each time we plant them they die either by the fall or by spring. We water and use miracle grow but they always die. We are fed up but need a nice bush here in Maine. My husband even covers them if they make it to winter. They always die the same way turn brown on the inside and goes all the way out until the whole tree is brown and we assume dead. Any ideas?
Thank you,
Pam Puiia

Answer
Pam,

The browning from the inside out indicates to that they are struggling to establish a productive root system in the area that you are planting them in. What are the conditions of the soil? Is it clay or loam? Clay soils will cause drainage problems which lead to root rot and death of the plants. Arborvitae need to be planted in fertile, well drained soils in full sun.

When you plant them, do not use fertilizers that are high in nitrogen (like Miracle Gro). High concentrations of nitrogen fertilizers have been shown to burn the tender young roots that the plants send out in the first six months.

Before the winter sets in, you should be spraying them with anti-dessicant to help seal in moisture and erect a burlap enclosure for the first 5 years.

I hope this helped.
Good luck.
Ed Gullisken