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How to get arborvitae to grow faster starts with giving them exactly what they need to thrive.
Yes, arborvitae can grow faster when you provide the right soil, sunlight, and consistent care.
If you’ve been wondering how to get arborvitae to grow faster, you’re in the right place because these evergreens respond well to a few simple adjustments.
Getting arborvitae to grow faster doesn’t require magic, just a solid understanding of their basic needs and a little patience.
In this post, we’ll cover what speeds up growth, what slows it down, and the best methods you can use right now to help your arborvitae grow faster.
Let’s dig into the dirt.
Understanding How to Get Arborvitae to Grow Faster
To get arborvitae to grow faster, you first need to know what drives their growth cycle.
These trees are naturally vigorous, but they hit their stride only when conditions are ideal.
1. Arborvitae Are Heavy Feeders
Arborvitae crave nutrients, especially nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
If you want arborvitae to grow faster, you must feed them regularly during the growing season.
A slow-release fertilizer formulated for evergreens works wonders for getting arborvitae to grow faster.
Apply it in early spring and again in early summer to fuel that extra burst of growth.
2. Consistent Moisture Is Non-Negotiable
How to get arborvitae to grow faster often comes down to watering discipline.
These trees hate drought, and even a few dry days can stall upward growth.
To help arborvitae grow faster, keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged.
A deep soaking once a week, more often in hot weather, encourages strong root development that pushes taller growth.
3. Full Sun Maximizes Photosynthesis
Arborvitae need at least six hours of direct sunlight daily to grow at their best.
When you’re figuring out how to get arborvitae to grow faster, check your planting spot for shade.
In too much shade, arborvitae grow slower and become sparse, so moving them or trimming nearby branches can make a huge difference in getting arborvitae to grow faster.
Key Factors to Help Arborvitae Grow Faster
Several environmental and care factors directly influence how fast your arborvitae put on new growth.
Focus on these to get arborvitae to grow faster year after year.
1. Soil Quality and pH
Arborvitae prefer loamy, well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5.
If your soil is heavy clay or pure sand, amending it with compost will help arborvitae grow faster by improving drainage and nutrient availability.
A simple soil test tells you exactly what to add to support faster arborvitae growth.
2. Proper Spacing for Airflow
Crowding stresses arborvitae and limits how fast they can expand.
To get arborvitae to grow faster, space them according to their mature width, typically 3 to 4 feet apart for privacy screens.
Good airflow reduces disease pressure, so more energy goes into upward growth rather than fighting off problems.
3. Mulching Retains Moisture and Regulates Temperature
A 2-to-3-inch layer of organic mulch around the base keeps roots cool and moist.
This simple step is a secret weapon for how to get arborvitae to grow faster because it reduces water stress and adds nutrients as it decomposes.
Just keep mulch a few inches away from the trunk to avoid rot.
Best Practices for Faster Arborvitae Growth
Now let’s get into the hands-on tactics that directly answer how to get arborvitae to grow faster.
These are the actions that deliver visible results within one growing season.
1. Use a Root-Stimulating Fertilizer at Planting
When you first plant arborvitae, mix in a root stimulator or mycorrhizal fungi.
This kickstarts root establishment, which is the foundation for getting arborvitae to grow faster above ground.
A strong root system means the tree can absorb water and nutrients more efficiently from day one.
2. Prune Strategically (But Lightly)
Light pruning in early spring encourages bushier, denser growth.
For how to get arborvitae to grow faster, only trim the tips of branches, never cut into old wood where no needles grow.
Removing dead or damaged branches redirects energy to healthy shoots, helping arborvitae grow faster overall.
3. Water with a Soaker Hose or Drip Irrigation
Overhead watering wastes water and can lead to fungal issues.
To get arborvitae to grow faster, use a soaker hose placed along the root zone.
Deep, slow watering encourages roots to go deep, which supports faster top growth during dry spells.
So, How to Get Arborvitae to Grow Faster?
How to get arborvitae to grow faster is really about combining the right care elements: full sun, consistent moisture, nutrient-rich soil, and proper spacing.
Getting arborvitae to grow faster takes a season of dedicated attention, but the payoff is lush, tall evergreens that fill in quickly.
Start with soil improvement and watering discipline, then layer in fertilizer and pruning for the best results.
Now you have a clear roadmap on how to get arborvitae to grow faster, so get out there and give your trees what they’ve been waiting for.