American arborvitae

For optimal health, American arborvitae, or Thuja Occidentalis 'Sherwood Frost', should be watered 2 to 3 times a week. During the hottest months, such as July and August, water more often. In the cooler months, when growth slows, reduce to once a week. During periods of extremely warm weather, you may even need to water daily. Make sure to water deeply and evenly, wetting the entire root zone once a week. Check the soil for moisture before watering and remember to adjust based on weather conditions. It is better to water deeply and less frequently than just a light sprinkling often.

American arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'Sherwood Frost') should receive full sunlight for at least 4-5 hours per day to ensure optimum growth. This means that when planted in a location, the tree should receive direct sunlight from late morning until late afternoon. If the plant is planted in an area that receives only partial shade, then the hours of direct sunlight should be closer to 6-8 hours. It is important to note that the plant will become very stressed if exposed to direct sun for too long; so if the tree is in an area with high summer temperatures, then afternoon shade would be beneficial.

American arborvitae should be pruned in later winter, just before the new growth is set to begin in spring. This is important as pruning too early can cause damage to the new growth. Pruning should also be light to ensure proper shape and form; any sheared cuts or thinning can be done in the early summer after the new growth has had a chance to mature. When pruning American arborvitae, make sure to maintain a natural form and shape since it does not respond well to hard pruning. Remove only portions of the plant that have grown significantly larger than the rest, and take care to avoid removing too much foliage in 1 pass.