Garden Care Guide

Western Red Cedar Care

Thuja plicata

A fast-growing, large privet species that prefers moist, cool climates. It needs regular and generous irrigation to stay healthy in Izmir's hot and dry summers. It is generally used to quickly form a tall hedge or screen.

Hardy · -35 °C / -31 °F

Monthly care calendar

Timings are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate. In warmer areas tasks start earlier, in colder areas later; in the Southern Hemisphere shift them by six months.

January
  • Watering: Not required; winter rains are sufficient. Water only if an unusually long dry winter occurs.
  • Pruning: Avoid hard pruning. Only branches that could break under snow load can be lightened.
  • Plant protection: Application of dormant oil can be planned for overwintering pests (spider mite eggs, scale insects).
  • General care: Cold winter winds can cause bronzing on the leaves; this is normal.
  • Pests & diseases: Check the trunk and branches.
February
  • Fertilizing: At the end of the month, before new growth starts, a slow-release, balanced fertilizer (e.g. NPK 10-10-10) can be applied. Do not overfeed.
  • Pruning: Remove branches damaged in winter. Wait for new shoots to emerge before the main pruning.
  • Plant protection: This is the last chance for dormant oil application.
  • General care: The plant is preparing to wake up. The bronze color formed over winter begins to turn green.
  • Pests & diseases: Make sure drainage is good against root rot.
March
  • Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
  • Fertilizing: If fertilizing has not been done, it can be done at the beginning of the month.
  • Pruning: New shoots begin to become distinct; wait until the end of the month or May for pruning.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Good time for planting and transplanting.
  • Pests & diseases: During humid and cool periods, monitor the leaves and trunk for signs of mold, spots and rot.
April
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days. Water newly planted plants more often than established plants during the first year; the root system is still shallow.
  • Pruning: After the new shoots have lengthened, the first shaping or hedge pruning can be done. Avoid pruning into old, leafless wood.
  • Plant protection: Watch out for bagworms (small bags on the tree) and scale insects.
  • General care: Good time for planting and transplanting.
  • Pests & diseases: Natural leaf drop on the inner parts is normal, but yellowing of the outer leaves is a sign of a problem.
May
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a week.
  • Pruning: This is one of the best times for main pruning. A second pruning can be done at the end of summer.
  • Plant protection: Hot and dry weather is ideal for spider mites. Fight them by wetting the leaves and, if necessary, using a miticide.
  • General care: Spread a 5-7 cm layer of mulch over the root zone; it retains soil moisture and suppresses weeds. Do not pile mulch against the trunk.
  • Pests & diseases: Spider mites are the biggest threat. Check the leaves for discoloration and fine webs.
June
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. The root zone should be wetted to a depth of 30-40 cm.
  • Pruning: Do shaping and hedge pruning. Prune only from the green zone; it does not produce new shoots from the inner brown wood, and the cut area becomes a permanent gap.
  • Plant protection: Continue controlling spider mites and bagworms.
  • General care: Take care that the plant does not become stressed in extreme temperatures.
  • Pests & diseases: Sudden, widespread yellowing is a sign of water stress or a root problem.
July
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. The root zone should be wetted to a depth of 30-40 cm.
  • Pruning: For the second pruning, it is better to wait until the end of the month or early September.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Make sure the plant's interior receives enough air.
  • Pests & diseases: In hot and dry weather, look on the undersides of the leaves for fine webbing and speckled yellowing (spider mites). Washing the leaves during the cool hours reduces their numbers.
August
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. The root zone should be wetted to a depth of 30-40 cm.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: The plant gradually prepares for winter.
  • Pests & diseases: In hot and dry weather, look on the undersides of the leaves for fine webbing and speckled yellowing (spider mites). Washing the leaves during the cool hours reduces their numbers.
September
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a week.
  • Pruning: Do the last formative pruning of the season; do not let it put out new shoots before frost.
  • Plant protection: The spider mite population may still be active; do one last check.
  • General care: After pruning, remove plant debris to protect against diseases.
  • Pests & diseases: Disinfect your pruning tools to prevent the spread of diseases.
October
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days. Water newly planted plants more often than established plants during the first year; the root system is still shallow.
  • Pruning: Do not prune except in emergencies.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Good time for planting and transplanting.
  • Pests & diseases: During humid and cool periods, monitor the leaves and trunk for signs of mold, spots and rot.
November
  • Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Good time for planting and transplanting.
  • Pests & diseases: During humid and cool periods, monitor the leaves and trunk for signs of mold, spots and rot.
December
  • Pruning: Only if really necessary, light corrections are made.
  • Plant protection: You can plan for dormant oil application.
  • General care: Evergreen leaves continue to lose water in winter. Water thoroughly once before the soil freezes.

The care advice on this page is general and for information only; it is not professional advice. Plant age, soil and your garden’s microclimate can change the outcome. Plant protection products are mentioned only as general information; they are regulated, and the choice, dose and timing must be decided by a qualified professional under local rules. Consult a landscape architect or agronomist before applying.

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