Ontario cedar planting guide
How Far Apart Should You Plant Emerald Cedars for a Privacy Hedge?
Planting Emerald Cedars about 2.5 to 3 feet apart, measured from trunk centre to trunk centre, is a useful starting point for many Ontario privacy hedges. The best spacing must still match the width of your actual trees, the site, and how quickly you want privacy.
The short answer: start around 2.5 to 3 feet apart
A spacing of roughly 30 to 36 inches centre to centre often balances privacy, healthy growth, and project cost. Narrow trees placed near the tighter end can close sooner. Broader nursery stock may need more room even when the plants have the same labelled height.
Do not choose spacing from tree height alone. Two 6 foot Emerald Cedars can have very different widths and root ball sizes. Measure the actual stock, consider its future shape, and preserve enough soil volume for every root system.
Very tight spacing may look full on installation day but can make watering difficult and increase competition. Very wide spacing saves trees initially but can leave gaps and delay privacy. A professional layout should balance immediate appearance with long term plant health.
| Planning spacing | Best suited for | Important tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| About 2 feet | Narrow young stock and faster visual coverage | More trees, greater competition, and demanding watering |
| About 2.5 to 3 feet | Common residential privacy hedge planning range | Must still be adjusted to actual tree width and site |
| About 3.5 to 4 feet | Broad stock or a less urgent privacy timeline | Visible gaps may remain for longer |
These are planning ranges, not a universal planting specification. Confirm the nursery stock, cultivar, expected width, drainage, sunlight, and local site conditions before digging.
Measure cedar spacing centre to centre
Spacing is measured from the centre of one trunk to the centre of the next. Measuring the empty gap between foliage or root balls creates inconsistent results because every tree is a different width.
How many Emerald Cedars do you need?
Use this formula for an initial straight line estimate:
20 foot hedge
3 foot spacing
About 8 trees
30 foot hedge
3 foot spacing
About 11 trees
50 foot hedge
2.5 foot spacing
About 21 trees
The added tree assumes both ends receive a plant. Curves, corners, gates, setbacks, and partial end spaces change the final quantity. Mark the line before ordering.
Step by step: plan a straight, evenly spaced hedge
Step 1
Measure the complete hedge line
Mark the start and end points, measure the usable length, and identify gates, corners, utilities, drainage features, and access restrictions.
Step 2
Measure the actual tree width
Check several trees at their widest green point. Nursery height alone does not tell you how quickly adjacent plants will touch.
Step 3
Choose a centre to centre spacing
Use about 2.5 to 3 feet as a common planning range, then adjust for tree width, desired privacy speed, soil, sunlight, and the grower recommendation.
Step 4
Calculate the preliminary quantity
Divide the usable hedge length by the spacing. Add one tree when both ends need a plant, then round only after laying out the complete line.
Step 5
Mark every trunk centre
Stretch a guide string and place a marker at each planned trunk centre. Recheck the final gaps and alignment before digging.
Step 6
Plant, water, and monitor evenly
Keep each root flare at the correct grade, backfill consistently, water every root zone, mulch without touching trunks, and correct leaning before roots establish.
Five factors that should change your spacing decision
Actual tree width
Measure several trees. Broad, dense plants need different spacing than narrow stock of the same height.
Privacy timeline
Tighter spacing can provide coverage sooner, while wider spacing may take more growing seasons to close.
Soil and drainage
Heavy clay, compacted soil, or a wet site increases root stress. Crowding cannot compensate for poor site preparation.
Fence and property line access
Leave room for future width, airflow, trimming, and maintenance. Confirm the property line and locate utilities before digging.
Watering capacity
A long, closely planted hedge needs reliable and even watering. Every root ball must receive moisture during establishment.
Correct spacing is only the beginning
Consistent depth, root flare position, soil preparation, alignment, watering, and aftercare are just as important as the distance between trees.
After planting, follow our new cedar watering guide. You can also review current tree and installation examples in the Toronto cedar planting cost guide. If an established hedge already has a gap, follow our dead cedar replacement guide.
Emerald Cedar spacing FAQ
How far apart should Emerald Cedars be planted for privacy?
For many residential privacy hedges, about 2.5 to 3 feet centre to centre is a practical starting range. The correct spacing depends on the actual width of the trees at planting, their expected mature width, the desired privacy timeline, soil conditions, and access for maintenance.
Can I plant Emerald Cedars 2 feet apart?
Two foot spacing can create a faster visual screen with narrow nursery stock, but it also increases competition for water, nutrients, and airflow. It should only be chosen after checking the tree width and site conditions.
Is 4 feet apart too far for Emerald Cedars?
Four feet centre to centre can work when the selected cedars are already broad or when you are willing to wait longer for the hedge to close. Narrow young trees may leave visible gaps for several growing seasons.
How do I calculate how many cedars I need?
Divide the hedge length by the chosen centre to centre spacing, then add one tree when both ends of the line need a tree. Confirm the final layout on the ground before ordering because gates, corners, utilities, and property line setbacks can change the count.
How far should a cedar hedge be from a fence?
Leave enough room for the expected hedge width, airflow, access, and future trimming. The exact setback depends on the plant size and site, so measure from the trunk line rather than placing the root balls directly against the fence.
Let NorthCedar plan and install your privacy hedge
NorthCedar supplies and installs Emerald Cedars across Toronto and the GTA. Send us your hedge length, preferred tree height, location, and clear site photos. We can recommend the quantity, spacing, preparation, and installation plan for your property.