FAQ | The Cedar Guys
We don’t normally do a site visit as we receive 30-50 e-mails per day and couldn’t possibly do a site visit for each one. Most situations of concern (other trees, location, obstructions etc.) can be resolved with a couple of pictures. In order for us to quote you please include an exact accurate measurement as well as the height of tree you’re interested in. Contact us through our online system to supply us with your site details etc.
You can control the width with regular trimming and keep them quite tight or let them expand.
After the first season when your new trees are rooted, trimming the tops of the individual trees will encourage “side growth” while getting taller as well.
In approximately three seasons from planting, with proper care (see watering/mulch/fertilizer), your hedge will be quite thick and lush.
After three seasons the hedge’s root system will be well established and virtually maintenance free. Trimming once a year encourages new fresh growth and keeps the hedge thick (trimming especially helps keep growth at the base of the hedge where neglected hedges will “thin out” and become “see through”). Trimming every second year is also an established practice.
The taller trees will be relatively fuller but all cedars are individual trees that take time to groom into that solid hedge effect that is so desired.
When choosing the taller tree, you are essentially getting more initial height right from the start.
We have a full array of sizes: 4 ft to 10 ft.
4’-5’: For longer areas the best value is the 4’-5’ cedar hedge. The smaller trees root rapidly and provide a great value for the budget minded.
5’-6’: The most popular size cedar hedge is the 5’-6’. They are the same height as most chain link fences which instantly adds “green” to the plain look of a fenced in yard.
6’-7’, 7’-8’: For areas along taller wooden fences, the 5’-6’, 6’-7’, 7’-8’ cedars cover most of the fence fazing it out without making it look out of place where a smaller tree might.
8’-9’, 10’: 8’-9’ and 10’ plus are recommended if you have a taller area that you require coverage for and you want the tallest trees that can be successfully hand planted in a tight hedge row.
A 7-8ft tree will be a minimum of 7ft tall with some of the lead stocks jutting up to 7’11”. The little wisp at the top doesn’t do much until they grow in.
If you wish for 8ft trees you would need to order 8-9ft trees.
When you order a 5-6 ft cedar they are a minimum height of 5 ft with some of the lead stocks jutting towards 6 ft.
We pay more for a 6ft tree so to get an actual 6 ft tree you would need to order 6-7 ft cedars as they are a minimum of 6 ft with some of the lead stocks jutting up to 7ft.
That little bit at the top really doesn’t do much for privacy right away. The main goal when planting a hedge is to mix and match the bodies of the trees to create uniformity.
We dig a trench (1’ wide, 1’ deep) and put a mix of soil (sheep manure) and fertilizer (blood meal) in the bottom of the trench. We then plant each cedar as close as possible to each other (“root ball to root ball”) placing the best side of the cedar facing towards the customer. This makes for a nice tight hedge.
The number of trees needed depends on the length of area to be covered and the height of tree you choose (see pricing chart).
Spacing the trees apart makes for a thin sparse hedge that will take many extra seasons to try to thicken up. This would not be a Cedar Guys hedge as we only plant our trees root ball to root ball.
For the average hedge (100ft and under), we will dig the trees fresh in the morning, load our supplies and plant them in the afternoon (weather permitting*).
*Heavy rain makes it difficult to access our fields and dig the trees’ root balls out properly.
No, all our work is done by hand. We normally park at the road or in the driveway (if permitted) and wheelbarrow the trees and supplies into the yard.
When we finish, everything is raked and swept to complete a nice, neat professional job.
The most we would use “machine” wise would be a compact rotor-tiller, only on a very long stretch that doesn’t have a fence on the perimeter.
We recommend planting the hedge as close to the fence as possible to encourage more growth away from the fence towards the customer’s side. Also, if you space the trees away from the fence, you will get an overgrowth of weeds in between the hedge and the fence which looks unkempt and the weeds will leach water and nutrients from the base of the hedge.
Cedars by nature will grow around any obstructions. Their roots are shallow and grow around rocks, stumps, fence posts, cement, retaining walls etc. Their roots are thick and stringy like slim rope.
When planted next to a fence the cedar’s branches will slow down its growth on the inner side that touches the fence and add growth on the visible side. This doesn’t hurt the fence or the trees and the customer gets the benefit of the thick growth.
No problem. Cedars can be planted free standing in most areas. When planting along a property line, I highly recommend that we dig the trench up to the property line which will place the trees on your property with the center trunk well within the property line.
Yes. The Cedar Guys give a one year written warranty. You follow my instructions (see watering/fertilizing/mulch) and your hedge will thrive. No matter when we plant we’ll guarantee the trees will survive through winter right back to the month they were planted. If a tree does not take root (it will be crispy copper coloured, top to bottom), we’ll cheerfully replace it at no charge, of course.
Cedars can be planted any time from spring up until the ground freezes. As long as you follow the after care procedure I outline, the hedge will be healthy. Remember: if The Cedar Guys plant your hedge, it is under a full year warranty!
Any size cedar will grow upwards of 50 feet if you let them grow. Remember: even though they’ve been planted in a hedge row (or formation), they are evergreens and will grow accordingly.
Cedar trees grow naturally in low lying forested bush areas where mosquitoes are naturally found, this is why they are often associated with mosquitoes and other bugs. Once they are dug up and transported to your location, they will not bring the mosquitoes with them. If you live in an area that is known for mosquitoes, they may go into your hedge for shade.
We’ve done work from Barrie, Georgina, Peterborough, Kitchener, Cambridge, Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, Caledon, Hamilton, Waterloo, Orangeville, Midland, Gravenhurst , Bracebridge, Blue Mountain, Kawartha Lakes etc. (a small fee for travel expense may be required, e-mail through contact form for details). The majority of our work is done throughout York Region and the Greater Toronto Area.
Cedars do NOT require very much sunlight. They actually have less shock in a shady area because the sun won’t dry out the base of the cedars. As always, Cedar mulch is required to maintain moisture at the base of the hedge. This couples with regular watering will ensure proper rooting and growth.
We ONLY use the native “Ontario Eastern White Cedar”. Any established hedge you see all started with the Ontario Eastern White Cedar. If you look “inside” an established hedge, you will see the individual tree stalks all the way down the hedge. The center of the hedge is dormant (almost dead looking) so as to allow the outside to flourish. Nicknames for the Ontario Eastern White Cedar include “swamp cedar”, “bush cedar”, “scrub cedar”, ” field cedar”, “hedging cedars” amongst many others.
NO. The Cedar Guys dig our own trees from our many suppliers. We dig up only the best trees to allow the others to fill out and only pay for what we dig. Other companies will buy entire fields and dig every scrappy tree they can. This is when you’ll see bad cedar specimens in some hedges.
I’ve been told a few ways from my past customers.
1) place a couple of “salt licks” about 20-50 ft from the hedge as this will draw them away.
2 ) hanging a few bars of soap throughout the hedge keeps them away.
3 ) there’s a product called ” Scoot : Deer repellent ” that I’ve been told works really good.
Yes, some smaller orders can be combined to make a trip cost effective, although some small orders are just too small and/or too far away to be cost effective.
Send in the inquiry form in the contact us section to see if we can service your order. It varies so we couldn’t possibly list all the minimums.
Hedge Pictures
In a few years, with proper care, you will have a full thick, dense hedge that will be unrecognizable from the first season that it was planted and you will be able to shape and trim it as you please. So “Don’t get fenced in… Go natural!
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