Hi, I have a fir hedge that was heavily damaged by all that nasty, wet snow we had. I am wondering if it is at all salvageable and what do I do? I don't mind trimming it down, it was getting too large anyway. Thanks
Not quite sure what it is, but it isn't a fir. Possibly juniper or arborvitae, but that's not certain. Can you post a larger close-up of the foliage? That will help with diagnosis.
They remind me of one of the Chamaecyparis varieties. Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Kosteri' http://www.horsfordnursery.com/new/...l_images_big/Chamaecyparis_obtusa_Kosteri.htm Abies - fir http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/Cultivar/Bickelhaupt May 2004/AbiesconcolorOlsonWB.jpg Newt
Here is a larger photo. It could be cedar? I just want to know if it can be saved. Or how hard is it to remove and replant a smaller one, I am open to suggested replacements if anyone has any ideas?
Not a cedar, some sort of cypress or arborvitae. I think they'll live, but always look rather ugly. Best replaced, I fear.
One of the golden Platycladus (Thuja) orientalis cultivars, probably the frequently sold and planted Aureus Nanus. Routinely called Berckman's golden arborvitae, although that name really belongs to another, more pointed introduction called 'Conspicua'. Anyway, I think the best course is removal. Smaller replacements can be had comparatively cheaply and easily from local outlets in season, even grocery stores sell this one here. However, since the existing planting has failed maybe another selection would be a better choice.
I have a Platycladus (Thuja) orientalis 'Aurea nana', but it doesn't look anything like the plants in the photos -- particularly the unique, vertically-oriented fronds, for which I like the plant so much, are absent in the photos (other very similar cultivars are 'Morgan' and 'Southport'). But it could well be some other kind of arborvitae.
They're not vertically oriented because they're flattened by snow. Nevertheless, the sprays can still be seen to be parallel to one another and to be made up of the characteristic foliage.
Form of Thuja orientalis, I think. A miserable plant, in my book, because the pruning options for control are virtually nil in the long run. Cute when little. Like this... http://www.manetti.ch/images/immagini-assortimento/estrat36.jpg You won't get new buds on bare stems, so the top has almost nothing to work with. You could try shearing a bit of weight off the sides, but you can't take too much green off or you will just end up with a bunch of dead wood.
