Can I Plant a Cedar Hedge in the Fall?

Fall is an ideal time of year to plant hedges and trees (and other things). When you plant a cedar hedge in the fall, the hedge does not suffer the stress of hot summer sun. Hedges planted in the fall have an opportunity to develop a strong root system before they have to face their first hot summer. In today’s blog, we are going to talk about all the advantages of planting in the fall. 

Root Development 

When it is cool in the fall, the hedge does not immediately have pressure to grow branches and height above ground. What this means is your hedge will develop a larger root system before starting a lot of the growth that you see. The advantage of this is better nutrient uptake for a stronger shrub and better stability for holding the cedar upright in case of storms. Normally, we do not stake cedars, but they need their roots. Fall planting gives them a head start. 

Water 

Newly planted cedars need lots of water. If you plant in the fall, when the temperature is cooler, we have a rainy season on the lower mainland which helps to keep the roots moist. When hedges are planted in mid-summer, they have higher water requirements than at lower temperatures and watering enough and often enough is critical. In the fall, you may need to supplement water, but our naturally occurring heavy rains will help to nourish your newly planted cedars as they head into winter dormancy. 

Fall is an ideal time to plant a cedar hedge. Their roots develop faster than the growth above ground, and they get a chance to rest over the winter which helps with the shock of transplant. Don’t let the cool temperatures scare you off. Plant your cedars now. And if you need some help with that, give us a call in Langley at (778) 241-5664. 

If you have any questions about Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’ cedars or you are interested in planting a hedge this summer, give us a call on the Lower Mainland at (778) 241-5664, as cedar hedging is our business.

Pacific West Cedars, based in Langley, British Columbia, farms, supplies, and installs cedar hedging on the Lower Mainland. They offer two kinds of cedars plus boxwoods: Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata), and Emerald Cedars (Thuja occidentalis “Smaragd”). They work with landscapers, contractors, and also directly with the public. 

If you have any questions about this article or would like to talk to us about cedars, we encourage you to call us at (778) 241-5664.