Your lawn needs an upgrade!

People often let shrubs and invasive plants run wild in their lawns because regular maintenance can take too much time. If you’re one of those people, this is your sign to try landscaping with Thuja or arborvitae trees. 

The great thing about Thuja trees is that they’re relatively simple to plant and grow. Landscaping with them can give your lawn a completely new look. Even if you don’t want to spend big bucks on landscaping, you can still DIY some projects with arborvitae trees. After all, a good chunk of Americans prefers to DIY projects now anyway. So, here are some Thuja tree landscaping ideas you can take inspiration from!

Idea 1: Use as Natural Privacy Screens

The biggest appeal of Thuja or arborvitae trees is their use as privacy hedges. Some arborvitae species, like the Thuja Green Giant and American Pillar Arborvitae can reach heights of over 50 feet at maturity. This makes them excellent privacy screens for your lawn or yard.

You can plant Thuja trees outside the most visible areas of your house to cover them. Arborvitae trees have thick and bulky leaves that allow them to cover vast areas. Plant some American arborvitae seedlings in a row, and you have a stunning natural privacy screen around your home!

Idea 2: Build Thuja Corridors for Passageways

Does your lawn or yard have passageways? You can use Thuja trees as corridors around them!

Thuja Green Giant will likely be too large for this landscaping idea, but you can opt for dwarf Thuja trees instead. Varieties like Thuja Can Can are short enough to act as a corridor without obstructing too much of the view. This dwarf arborvitae tree grows up to 10 feet at maturity, making it an ideal choice if you’re using Thuja trees for decorative purposes.

Idea 3: Create Thuja Tree Topiaries

Who doesn’t love a uniquely-shaped shrub or tree in their yard? Topiary is a unique gardening practice that has been around for centuries. It is the art of shaping plants into decorative styles. You can do it with arborvitae trees, too.

Due to the size and density of the foliage of Thuja trees, you can easily trim it to make ornamental shapes. You can create spiral shapes or go for something more ambitious, like an animal topiary. Topiary works for taller and shorter arborvitae trees, so just get creative!

Idea 4: Thuja Trees as Windbreakers

Strong winds are becoming more common in some US states. If you live in a region with frequent strong winds, Thuja tree hedges and screens can be beneficial for your home. The dense foliage of giant arborvitae trees works exceptionally well as a windbreak. Similar to how arborvitae privacy hedges can limit visibility, they can limit the passage of harsh winds, too.

Start by planting Thuja Green Giant or American Pillar Arborvitae trees along your home’s fence lines. Since these trees are fast-growing, they will continue to become bulkier and taller every day. This will help protect your outdoor furniture and glass doors or windows from the wind.

Idea 5: Make Giant Green Dividers

Have you divided your lawn into different sections? Many homeowners do. There might be a separate seating area on your lawn where you have kept your outdoor furniture. It’s important to create some kind of barrier around this section for safety and privacy. If you don’t want to invest in concrete walls or wooden screens to protect this section, you can use Thuja trees instead!

Plant dwarf Thuja trees around the seating area so your neighbors can’t peek through when you’re lounging. You can space the Thuja Can Can trees out for more visibility, too. These trees require little maintenance, so you don’t have to worry about their upkeep either.

Conclusion

Arborvitae or Thuja trees offer a wide range of landscaping opportunities for your outdoor living spaces. They come in different sizes, too. Given the evergreen nature and low maintenance needs of Thuja trees, you can easily DIY a stunning Thuja tree landscaping project for your lawn in 2023. Good luck!

Grab Your American Arborvitae Seedlings Today!

Wondering where to get quality Thuja trees in your region? Thuja Gardens can help!

Thuja Gardens is a South Carolina-based nursery that grows and sells arborvitae trees across the US. Their team has been serving the market for more than 18 years, making them a reliable arborvitae nursery. Their range includes arborvitae seedlings and four types of grown Thuja trees. You can contact them to place an order.

About the Author

The author of this guest post is an experienced gardener who has been growing arborvitae trees for over 10 years. She became interested in Thuja/arborvitae trees after first seeing them in her neighbor’s lawn as a child in South Carolina. Since then, she has worked with companies like Thuja Gardens to promote the proper care and maintenance of Thuja trees across America.