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When selecting arborvitae for privacy, homeowners look for fast growth, dense foliage, and adaptability to local climates. The following five options are well-suited for creating living privacy screens, windbreaks, or decorative hedges across a variety of American landscapes. Each pick comes from trusted brands and is documented for backyard planting, maintenance, and long-term resilience.
| Product | Brand | Key Privacy Feature | Notable Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thuja Green Giant 1 Gallon 5-Pack | PERFECT PLANTS | Dense foliage for rapid privacy | Very versatile for screens and borders |
| Thuja Green Giant Plant 18-Pack | PERFECT PLANTS | Large privacy screen potential with multiple liners | Value-packed kit for instant coverage |
| Emerald Green Arborvitae (2-3 Feet) | Tree Tots | Year-round privacy with dense, compact growth | Smaller starter size for flexible placement |
| 5 Thuja Green Giant Arborvitae Trees/Hedges | Generic | Natural privacy screen with pyramid form | Shipped as multiple small plants ready to establish |
| Thuja Green Giant 3 Gallon | PERFECT PLANTS | Rapid growth up to a mature screen | Larger container size for quicker impact |
Note: All products are oriented toward privacy, windbreaks, or living fences. Plant choices may vary by climate zone, soil, and sunlight exposure. Refer to local gardening guidelines for spacing, watering, and maintenance considerations.
Thuja Green Giant 1 Gallon 5-Pack
The Thuja Green Giant is recognized as a premier fast-growing privacy tree in much of the United States. This large evergreen features dense, dark-green foliage with a pleasantly resinous smell when leaves are broken. Its wide, bottom-heavy pyramidal form helps create an effective screen, and mature specimens can reach up to 60 feet tall and 20 feet wide. The variety tolerates a range of soils and climates, and it can be pruned to maintain a preferred size or shape for a neat, orderly privacy border.
Key considerations: Provide ample spacing to allow air circulation and growth, monitor pruning to maintain desired height, and plan for long-term maintenance as the trees mature in larger landscapes.
Thuja Green Giant Plant 18-Pack
This value 18-pack offers multiple liners that simplify creating an instant privacy screen or windbreak. The dense, dark green foliage emits the familiar evergreen scent when leaves are broken, contributing to a natural, year-round cover. While spacing and layout are essential for optimal privacy, this kit reduces the guesswork compared with purchasing single units and provides a cohesive, uniform appearance over time.
Key considerations: Plan a strategic layout to maximize coverage as the liners grow, ensure consistent watering during establishment, and be mindful of any regional shipping restrictions or planting windows that affect delivery and site readiness.
Emerald Green Arborvitae (2-3 Feet)
Emerald Green Arborvitae provides year-round privacy with dense evergreen foliage and a tall, natural screen when planted in rows. These shrubs can grow up to 14-16 feet tall, offering a substantial vertical privacy barrier for yards. They are relatively low maintenance, requiring minimal pruning to maintain their elegant form. This option is suitable for medium to larger landscapes where a discreet yet effective living fence is desired.
Key considerations: Ensure consistent moisture, especially in warmer months, and provide enough space for growth to avoid crowding. This variety adapts well to a range of soils and sun exposures but benefits from full sun for best color and density.
5 Thuja Green Giant Arborvitae Trees/Hedges
This set includes five Green Giant Arborvitae plants that are approximately 6-12 inches tall, shipped in 2.5-inch pots. They are described as low-maintenance with a natural pyramid shape that reduces pruning needs while forming a robust privacy screen or windbreak. The compact start sizes allow strategic placement for a phased privacy solution as the plants mature over time.
Key considerations: Space plants according to their eventual width, protect from extreme heat or cold during the first growing season, and establish a regular watering routine to support root development and early height gain.
Thuja Green Giant 3 Gallon
This larger 3-gallon container accelerates privacy impact, with growth rates that can reach up to three feet per year under ideal conditions. Mature specimens can become 40 feet tall and 20 feet wide, making them an excellent choice for prominent screens or defining property lines. It is important to ensure appropriate spacing and regular maintenance to support steady growth, especially in climates with variable moisture or temperature extremes.
Key considerations: Account for local climate restrictions and ensure proper acclimation after transplanting. Larger plants require careful watering during establishment and may benefit from mulch to conserve soil moisture and reduce weed competition.
Buying Guide: Selecting And Caring For Arborvitae Privacy Trees
Climate And Site Conditions
Choose varieties that align with your USDA hardiness zone and sunlight availability. Most arborvitae prefer full sun but tolerate partial shade. Soil should be well-drained; otherwise, roots may struggle in overly damp conditions. Consider your yard’s wind exposure, as a screening hedge can act as a windbreak during harsher seasons.
Growth Rate And Mature Size
Fast-growing options like Green Giant can achieve privacy more quickly but require ongoing pruning and maintenance to maintain a desired silhouette. Plan for the mature height and width to avoid crowding nearby structures, utilities, or sidewalks. Spacing guidance typically ranges from 3 to 10 feet apart depending on the cultivar and intended density.
Maintenance Requirements
Arborvitae generally need regular watering during establishment, especially in hot spells or droughts. Mulching helps conserve soil moisture and temperature. Pruning is usually light unless shaping a formal screen; however, some varieties tolerate more aggressive pruning to fit landscape needs. Health monitoring for pests and disease, such as root rot or spider mites, is part of routine care in drier or poorly drained soils.
Container Vs. Ground Planting
Container-grown trees offer flexibility for placement and quicker visual impact, yet they may need more frequent watering and a careful root balance during transplanting. Bare-root or balled-and-burlapped plants may establish faster in well-prepared beds but require proper site access and spacing for future growth.
Cost, Availability, And Local Regulations
Bulk kits provide cost efficiency for large screens, while individual plants offer design flexibility. Some products may have regional shipping restrictions or legal considerations related to transport or planting—check local guidelines and supplier notices before purchasing.