Questions to Ask Yourself When Choosing Between Emerald Cedars and Western Red Cedars for Your Hedge

At first glance, Emerald Cedars and Western Red Cedars may appear to be very similar and even look the same. They are, however, significantly different. So, it would be useful before choosing one or the other for your hedge to ask yourself some questions. In today’s blog, we are going to look at these questions. 

How tall do you want your hedge? 

The Western Red Cedar is a real tree; in fact, it is native to British Columbia. The Emerald Cedar is a shrub, a cultivar, that will never get as big as a Western Red Cedar. So, if you want your hedge sky high, then the Red Cedar is the clear choice. 

How fast do you want or need it to grow? 

The Emerald is the clear winner here. This shrub was designed to grow fast and it will fill in quickly. So, if you are in a hurry, the Emerald is the right choice. 

Do you want a tidy, manicured look? 

The Emerald lends itself to this kind of look more readily than a Western Red Cedar. Since the Red is really a tree, it wants to get big, and it will be harder to keep it small and compact. The Red is a better choice if you want a more natural shaggy look. 

Is colour an issue? 

The Emerald is a brighter green and will keep this colour throughout its life. The Red is slightly darker green. 

Both of these choices will do beautifully as a hedge but there are some differences. These are the main questions to ask yourself before committing to one or the other. 

For cedar hedging, give us a call on the Lower Mainland at (778) 241-5664. This is our business and area of expertise. 

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.