What size of trees should I get?

Size depends on your individual budget as well as your time-line for allowing the trees to create a thick, privacy hedge. If you don’t want to wait as long you will want a taller and bushier tree to begin with.

Will taller trees give me instant privacy?

In general, the older the tree, the taller and wider it is. That being said, any hedge will require time in order to fully grow and be groomed into a privacy wall no matter what size it is to start. In some cases, larger trees planted very close together will provide a privacy hedge that is instant.

How long does it take for new cedar trees to form a complete privacy hedge?

This depends on spacing and size. In general, the closer a tree is planted to another and the bigger it is, the less time it will take a solid hedge to form. A well known technique for getting your trees to ‘bush out’ and fill-in faster is to top trim them. Top trimming once per year or every two years encourages fresh growth along the sides of the trees and is advisable when trees are spaced further apart.

When is the proper time to plant? Won’t tree’s die in the summer?

It is a good time to plant any time of the year as long as the soil your trees are in stays wet and moist whether through rainfall or manual watering. We like to use the phrase, ‘a wet tree is a happy tree’. All varieties of cedars grow in wet soil for most of the year and prefer the same during the summer. Tree’s may
die in the summer if they dry out as this significantly increases the stress to them. Keep your trees well watered and they will be fine.

How much can I expect my cedar trees to grow each year ?

Your cedars will not grow as much the first year if transplanted versus if they are container grown. The reason for this is they go through ‘transplant shock.’

You can minimize transplant shock by following a proper maintenance program for them which includes watering and fertilizing them. Once they get through the shock you can expect them to increase by about one-foot per year. Container grown trees, on the other hand, will start growing as soon as they are planted in the ground.

What distance apart will you plant the trees and how many will I require?

We typically plant the trees 24” apart. This is to allow the roots to establish and gain strength in the soil before they eventually meet and grow into each other. A good starting point for determining the number of cedars you’ll need is to take the linear distance (in feet) of the area you want hedged and then divide by two.

On occasion we will install them with as little as 20” spacing between centers. This is done only to shorten the time it takes for them to fill in.

How do you dig and how deep do you go?

Our trenches are all dug by hand to minimize any damage to your yard and to ensure a clean finish. We dig about 1-2’ wide and about one foot deep depending on the size of the rootball of the tree being installed.

In rare situations we will be required to use a mini-excavator if there is an extraordinarily long hedge to plant (with no barriers in the way, ie. fencing) or if the soil being dug is very difficult (old tree roots, rock, clay, etc).

How long does it take you to plant the trees?

This depends on the size and quantity you order, soil and weather conditions as well as the accessibility of the area to be hedged relative to where the trees are off-loaded from our truck. Count on several hours of work for larger amounts.

How far from fences/sidewalks do you plant?

Our hedges are planted about 20” away from fences. This ensures that we can properly get behind the trees and securely pack them down. It also allows the trees to grow unobstructed for a few years and gain strength in the soil.

Will my cedars uproot or affect surrounding sidewalks, patios, etc?

Cedar tree roots do not have the typical strength of the roots found in large trees. Therefore, their roots will not cause damage to anything at or below the surface. Cedar tree roots are usually shallow and will grow around external objects they meet.

What if no fence exists where my trees are to be planted?

We regularly plant cedars in areas without fences. We are careful to ensure that your trees are securely planted so they will stand tall and not shift. At your request, we can stake the trees too to give them added support until their roots re-establish.

What kind of warranty do you provide?

We offer a one-year warranty on all installed cedars against disease and improper installation. After we install, we ask that you follow our instructions regarding care and maintenance for them. If within one-year your trees have died for one of the reasons above we will replace them at no charge.

How do I know you will be around in one-year to warranty my trees if they die?

Firstly, we are ‘Better Business Bureau’ Accredited. That has a lot to say with how we conduct our business. Secondly, by the end of the Fall 2012 we will have planted close to 40,000 cedar trees of our own in ground. We are very optimistic on our outlook for growth and longevity for the company.

What if I want to plant the cedars myself?

Many of our customers prefer this option. You can either pick up the cedars yourself or we can deliver them to you. We will still advise you on proper care and maintenance. However, due to many factors which are out of our control, we cannot warranty trees that we do not install.

How high will our cedars get?

Your cedar trees will grow until the soil or root conditions don’t let them grow anymore. The less root space available to a cedar tree the less it will grow in the long run. In most situations and given optimal growing conditions, your cedars can easily grow 20+ feet.

Do you do work outside Vancouver and the Fraser Valley?

We’ve gone as far as Squamish, Kamloops and Hope to do work for our customers. We do charge a small fee for travel expenses which allows us to service those areas.

I want to plant my cedars where there is a lot of shade. Is this ok or do they need full sun?

It’s true that cedars may not grow as fast when not exposed to as much sun as other cedar trees…we have seen this from our own experience. They will not die however. As long as your cedars are properly watered they will continue to grow. The one advantage to a shady area is that the soil the cedar trees are in won’t dry out as fast as when they are in full sun.

How do you measure height?

We measure the height of the tree from the top of the root-ball upwards. In other words, if you order a 6’ tree it will be at least 6’ above ground when planted.

What kinds of cedar trees do you use to create a hedge?

We typically will plant either ‘Smaragd’ or ‘Pyramidalis’ cedars which are varieties of the Eastern White Cedar family. We also supply and install different varieties of the Western Red Cedar family like ‘Excelsia’s’ and ‘Emerald Giants’. We typically install Eastern White Cedars in smaller home lots due
to how they grow (tall and slim) vs Western Red Cedars which grow tall and wide and tend to overtake a much larger area of your yard.

Are your cedars premium quality?

All our cedars are Grade ‘A’ meaning they are the best quality you can get. We hand select from a wide variety of cedars (potted and field grown) from different suppliers ensuring we bring you only the best ones that we ourselves would want to put in our backyards. Our trees are dark green (no browning) and are full with no bare spots.