Western Red Cedar (thuja plicata)

• Popular evergreen conifer in the UK for tall hedging and screening, offering year-round privacy, windbreak, and noise reduction.
• Fast-growing (30-60cm per year), dense, glossy dark green foliage with a pleasant pineapple-like fragrance when crushed.
• Tolerates a wide range of conditions; hardy, shade-tolerant, and regrows well from old wood when pruned.
• Provides wildlife habitat (nesting sites and shelter for birds) and valuable durable timber.

Planting Guide

• Best time: Autumn (preferred for root establishment) best not planted in hot weather with drying winds.
• Site: Full sun to partial or full shade; sheltered from drying winds.
• Soil: Moist but well-drained, fertile; tolerates most types (clay, loam, chalk, sand) except waterlogged or very dry.
• Preparation: Dig holes twice the width of the root spread; improve poor soil with compost.
• Spacing: For hedges, 60-75cm apart; 3 plants per metre recommended for dense hedging.
• Aftercare: Water regularly in the first 1-2 years, especially during dry spells; mulch annually; trim hedges 2-3 times a year (spring/summer) for shape.