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Green Giant Arborvitae

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From: Becca R City: St. Louis, MO
A year ago I planted a 4' Green Giant Arborvitae and one of the stalks appears to be dead; no new growth where the other stalk does. Will cutting this stalk off hurt the tree? Or should I still wait to see if any new growth will appear? The stalk is coming up at the base of the main stalk. Thank you.
	Extension Message From: Richard Hentschel Extension Educator, Horticulture DuPage/Kane/Kendall Unit hentsche@illinois.edu
If that stalk is completely dead (scrape the bark in several places and if dead it will be a dry brown color) then go ahead and remove the entire stalk as low into the crown as you can. The living branches will begin to fill in the opening over several seasons. Newly planted plants like yours will need to be watered every season until the plants are completely recovered.
From: Becca R City: Saint Louis, MO
Thank you. I removed the dead branch as mentioned below. After removing I noticed that the stalk's bark is splint in two places going from the crown to half way up. Should I do anything to protect the stalk?
	Extension Message From: Richard Hentschel Extension Educator, Horticulture DuPage/Kane/Kendall Unit hentsche@illinois.edu
If this was a single stemmed decidious tree, wrapping the trunk while the trunk attempts to heal might help. With an Arborvitae that is really not something that can be done. With this additional information, perhaps the dead branch and splits on the remaining branch was caused by winter damage. Be sure to monitor your watering this year and next while the plants recover from being transplanted attempt to heal the wounds.
From: Becca R City: Saint Louis, MO
Thank you so much for the information; this has helped a lot. Since I have cut the dead branch off, new growth is already appearing around that cutting. I will watch and make sure it receives the needed watering.
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