How to prune and trim Double Emerald Green Arborvitae Spiral

The Romans first began shaping evergreens in an art form called topiary, a style that gained popularity throughout Europe, eventually making its way from luxury estates to simple home gardens. Historically, topiary mostly consisted of geometric shapes, but ambitious modern topiary sculptors use wire frames to create whimsical animal designs. Perhaps the simplest and most classic topiary shape is the spiral, commonly used for potted columnar evergreens, such as pyramidal arborvitae (Thuja spp.). Topiary -- even simpler designs such as spirals -- is not for a neglectful gardener; plants require frequent trimming to maintain the spiral shape.
Wait until late early spring to begin shaping the spiral arborvitae; although you can prune arborvitae throughout the year, early spring pruning allows ample recovery time before the hot summer months.

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Spray all pruning tools with a solution of one part bleach to 10 parts water to disinfect and prevent the spread of disease among plants. This task requires secateurs, also known as bypass pruners, topiary shears and long-handled shears.

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Prune the arborvitae into a basic cone or pyramidal shape with a pair of secateurs. Pyramidal arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) cultivars, which naturally grow in an upright, cone shape, are best for pruning into a spiral. This step may not be required because of arborvitae's dense growth and natural shape, but some longer branches require pruning.

Tie one end of flagging ribbon to the top of the arborvitae, just below the tip of the cone or pyramid.

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Wrap the ribbon around the arborvitae in a spiral from top to bottom. You can choose a wide or tight spiral pattern; try to maintain even spacing between the ribbon as you descend to the bottom of the arborvitae. Tie the ribbon to a lower branch or push a stake in the ground near the base of the plant and tie the ribbon to the stake.

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Cut the foliage under the ribbon, working your way from the bottom to the top of the arborvitae. Cutting the foliage that supports the ribbon will cause the ribbon to fall, so it's important to start shaping from the bottom of the plant. Start with the long-handled shears, then use the smaller topiary shears to trim the foliage toward the interior of the plant. You can cut the spiral as narrow as the ribbon, if desired, or simply use the ribbon as a guide when cutting a wider spiral from the arborvitae.

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Cut the branches at the trunk with the secateurs after you finish shaping and sheering the foliage.

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Remove the ribbon from the top of the arborvitae and inspect your work. Touch up the spiral shape with the topiary shears. Pay attention to the tip of the plant to ensure the tip flows naturally with the rest of the spiral pattern.

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Maintain the shape throughout the year with the topiary shears and secateurs. This includes removing new foliage from the cut spiral area and trimming the existing green foliage to uniform lengths.

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