How soil drainage affects the health of a new cedar hedge in the Lower Mainland

It’s not generally hard to grow a lush and leafy cedar hedge. But one of the challenges people face planting cedar hedge trees in BC is soggy soil. Fortunately, with a little initial planning and know-how you can avoid this problem. Get your cedars well-established and on their way to thriving with the following tips.

Common causes of soggy soil are improper drainage due to location, too much clay in the soil, soil compaction, or trees planted too deeply. All of these spell trouble for cedar root systems.

Drainage issues for cedar hedge trees in BC

• Location
• Clay soil
• Compacted soil
• Planted too deeply

Cedars have shallow roots, relative to other types of trees. Therefore, water that’s allowed to collect around the roots leads to root rot. Root rot kills the roots through mould infections and/or suffocation due to lack of oxygen.

Location

Planting a cedar hedge at the bottom of a hill or sloped lawn may cause issues, particularly if the lawn is regularly watered. Since water flows downhill, cedars planted in this location will end up getting far more water than plants uphill of them. Water will take longer to drain and may not drain as well as more level locations.

Clay soil

Clay soil is dense, clumping, and holds on to water–the opposite of drainage. Amend clay soils with organic matter (leaves, etc.), compost and aged manure. Over time, and with regular applications, the soil will improve.

Compacted soil

Compacted soil makes it harder for roots to grow and limits oxygen. When planting your cedars, take care not to compact the soil around the roots. Tamping gently, then watering thoroughly will help soil settle around the roots at the appropriate level.

Planted too deeply

As noted above, cedar trees have shallow root systems so they need to be planted nearer the surface rather than too deeply. The top of the root ball should be level with the ground. Loosen solid all around the roots ball, but avoid loosening the soil underneath, lest the tree sink further when settling.

One of the disadvantages of a shallow root system for cedar hedge trees in BC is that although they get plenty of rain for much of the year, they then face significant drought conditions over summer. To help them keep from drying in between waterings during this time, add a thick layer of mulch on top of the soil.

If you have more questions about growing a cedar hedge, have a look at our FAQ and installation guide. Or give us a call and we’ll be delighted to help: 778-241-5664.

Pacific West Cedars has the freshest trees in BC! Create your dream landscape with premium, locally grown boxwoods, emeralds and western red cedars. Our trees can be professionally installed by us or planted yourself. Contact us for more information.