Yep, no more sharing, I learned my lesson. Just feel really bad I dug it up in the first place...but she was doing so much work/planting in her yard already...and we set up an evening to dig up/pick up...I surely didn't expect this! I do believe, like Ken said, it was not properly planted in the pot (because the intention was that it was going to be planted right away!) and it was not watered (her comment, "I watered when I remembered." It was extremely wet when I came and got it, although she knew I was coming to get it late the evening before. Partially my fault, had I known it was going to sit ANY length of time, I would have properly planted it in the pot, but the timing was arranged between us both, for what suited us both, and I was under the impression the tree was going to be planted right away. And...what I can learn from this is...just not to do it again! I had one of these shrubs, in a different location, suffer greatly from salt runoff (I believe). I was sure it was dead. This thing was brown in spots, and BLACK in other spots...no green whatsoever. It came back, eventually. I guess I had a small hope that perhaps this one would. I learned to keep sidwalk salt away from them, keep dogs from peeing on them (learned from experience they burn from dog pee), and now neglectful friends....lol.

you can see all the trunks.. yes ... had you asked back then.. and if you could have found them at that price.. we would have suggested single leader plants ... which would not be prone to this .. but that is water under the bridge ... get some twine.. that will eventually rot.. not nylon or plastic stuff ... like at the link.. half miles worth.. lol ... spread your arm apart.. and double or triple it.. making a nice 3 foot piece .... and go tie the trunks together.. twice or so.. 2 feet apart [you didnt tell us how big, so i am guessing on how many] .... no need to do it tightly.. we are just using the whole.. to add structure ... and it should be put back near its usual shape... and then... hope for the best ... the KEY is that .. should you forget to release them from their bondage for a decade or two.. the stuff will rot away ... the only real problem.. would be another severe ice/snow or whatever storm.. as they may now have the potential to break.. instead of bending ... and then your problem will be solved.. because you will get rid of them .... this might also be another argument for planting a monoculture .... so if it ever comes to replacing some.. think about other types of plants ... good luck ken Here is a link that might be useful: you didnt say how many hundred you planted .. lol ..

I am wanting to have these overgrown arbor vitaes removed, but my husband says he thinks they look fine. ==>>> he really doesnt understand marriage.. does he??? .. how long have you been married ... i agree with you ... they are planted at least ten feet to the house ... are ridiculously overgrown ... and have already surpassed being in proportion to the structure ... have him read this... and understand that the only proper answer is.. YES DEAR ... ken ps: you have a large lawn out there.. when you relandscape.. use it ... foundation planting are planted to hide the foundation.. not on the foundation.. like these were ... most likely by the builder who should not have dabbled in landscaping ...

I'd be highly skeptical that this a disease or pest issue......arborvitaes are just not overly susceptible to either. Unless one considered root rots a disease. But based on the conditions described - located in a hot, dry climate, been in a container for several seasons and watered more or less according to a schedule - it would be difficult to consider the possibility of a root rot over lack of water. This serves as a bit of an illustration of the challenges of container gardening. Any permanent or semi-permanent plantings of woody plants in a container will need pretty consistent attention with up-potting or root pruning and repotting with fresh media. If plants remain in place too long without, the roots will expand to fill the container and the soil mix will break down, disappear or become displaced by roots, leaving nothing to retain any water. When you do water, it will run right through the container without the roots realizing any benefit. Even watering on a daily basis may not overcome this. So yes, looking at the roots may make sense but not to evaluate if they are rotting.....I really doubt they are. You are more likely to find a very dense and congested mass of roots with very little potting soil being apparent. btw, it only takes a day or two of very dry conditions for a potted conifer to dry out to the point where it is no longer viable. Been there, done that!