Green Giant Arborvitae
Thuja plicata × standishii 'Green Giant'
$8.99
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If you’re looking for a vigorous, fast-growing, pest-free,
evergreen tree, you can’t ask for better than Green Giant!
- FAST growth (3-5' per year!)
- Evergreen (year round privacy)
- Clean (resistant to most pests and diseases)
- USDA Zones 5-8 (great in Southern heat and humidity)
- Available in 10+ size options for every budget and timeline!
Green Giant Care
View Full Planting & Care Instructions
Sunlight
Full Sun to
Partial Shade
Watering
Weekly for the first 1-2
years, until established
Fertilizing
Slow-release fertilizer
in early spring
Pruning
Prune 2 times per year
to maintain as a hedge
FAST GROWING
DEER RESISTANT
USDA Hardiness Growing Range for Zones 5-8
USDA Zones 5-8
Mature HxW (unpruned): 30'x12'
Sun: Full to partial
Mature HxW (pruned): 15'x4'
Deer Resistant
Growth Rate: Fast (3-5' per year)
Fast Facts
Thuja Green Giant Arborvitae is an outstanding, easy-care tree that is versatile and adaptable for multiple uses in the landscape. It was first sent from Denmark to the U.S. National Arboretum in 1965 and has been a favorite with landscapers and homeowners ever since. Green Giant is a hybrid between Thuja plicata (Western Red cedar) and Thuja standishii (Japanese Arborvitae) and has qualities that surpass both of its parents.
It grows well in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 8, which is a large area that includes more southern states than the range of other varieties of Arborvitae. Because of this, Green Giant can withstand heat and humidity, making it an excellent choice for southern U.S. gardens. Green Giant Arborvitae growth rate is 3’ to 5’ a year, and it is virtually pest free and more deer-resistant than most other Thuja varieties.
Its year-round, dark green, feathery foliage makes a beautiful, dense border or windbreak, and it can be easily clipped into a hedge, grown as a specimen tree, or planted in a container.
How to Care for Green Giant Arborvitae
When to Plant
The best time to plant your Green Giant is in fall through early spring when the ground is workable, but when the tree is not actively growing.
Green Giant Tree Pot, ready to plant
Where to Plant
Site the trees on your property where they will best fulfill your need for a windbreak, privacy hedge, sunscreen, or border. Wherever you plant them, they will have the following sun and soil requirements.
Arborvitae will grow fastest in full sun, but they will also grow in some partial shade as long as they receive six hours of full sun during the day. The more sun the better since they will tend to thin out in shadier locations.
Since Arborvitae have extensive root systems, they will need soil that is loose, well-draining, free of rocks, and rich in organic matter. The pH of the soil should be between 6.0 and 8.0. You can easily test the pH of your soil with a pH meter or send a sample of your soil to your local county extension agent.
Green Giant grows best in
full sun in well-draining soil
How Many to Plant
Once you have selected a site, you'll need to know much many to buy. Measure the linear feet you want to cover. If you are planting a hedge, the easiest thing to do is to start with an InstantHedge that is pre-spaced and comes in a set of 10 linear feet. They create a beautiful, dense hedge as soon as they're planted and require minimal maintenance.
Green Giant
InstantHedge unit
If you want a windbreak, screen, or border, the spacing between the Green Giant trees will determine how many you’ll need. This is important! If Arborvitaes are planted too close together, they won’t have enough space above ground to spread their branches or space below ground to develop wide, substantial root systems to anchor the trees. Shorter trees can be planted closer together, but taller trees need enough space to grow healthfully.
Installed Green Giant
InstantHedge
Below is a spacing guide according to desired tree height, with the distance between trees measured between trunks or centers. If you’re planting your trees near a fence or building, space them at least 10’ away for adequate growing room. Allow at least 20’ between other trees or plantings to prevent competition for water and nutrients.
Desired Screen Height
6-8'
10-12'
15'+
Spacing Distance
3'
4-6'
7-10'
How to Plant
When your trees arrive, water them immediately, before planting.
For planting individual green giant trees, dig a hole the depth of the pots or root balls and two to three times as wide. Tease the roots apart and place the trees in the holes with the top of the roots just below the soil surface. Backfill the holes with soil and tamp them down gently so that they are firmly set and there are no air pockets.
*Planting Tree Pots or Gallon sizes – note the soil level is even with the root flare
Root Flare
You can plant them in multiple configurations:
linear, staggered, or creative.
Linear
space the plants evenly in a straight line.
Staggered
space the plants evenly but in a staggered line.
Creative
vary the spacing and lines to create a more natural or artistic line.
For a standard InstantHedge, dig a trench 12” deep and at least 18” wide to the length desired.
3 InstantHedge units (10 linear feet) being planted in a trench. Yes, you plant the cardboard box which then decomposes!
For a MiniHedgeXL, dig the trench 10.5” deep and 18” wide.
3 MiniHedgeXL (8.75 linear feet) being lifted from their pots and planted in a trench.
Plant the hedge units end to end, as closely together as you can get them. Add a layer of mulch over the root zone (without letting it touch the trunks), and water it in thoroughly.
Watering
While the trees are establishing during their first and second years on your property, they will need to be watered weekly in the growing season. Arborvitae require moist soil, but not soggy. Water by hand or with a slow-drip system a few feet away from the trunk to soak the soil, but not directly on the roots to prevent root rot. A long, deep soaking is always better than a quick, shallow watering.
*Drip irrigation is a great way to irrigate your hedge without wasting water.
Fertilizing
As your Green Giant trees grow, they will need nourishment to keep them in tip-top shape. Fertilize them every spring with an all-purpose, slow-release, granular fertilizer with a high nitrogen content, like 16-5-9 or 18-5-12. Follow the instructions and water it in thoroughly.
*A slow-release granular fertilizer in early spring will fuel your hedge’s growth throughout the growing season.
Pruning
Green Giant Arborvitae are very fast growing — 3’ to 5’ per year when established. To keep them at a desired height, you can prune them every year to a shorter size with a clean, sharp shears or electric hedge trimmers. Arborvitae only produce new growth at the ends of the branches, not on the old, bare sections close to the trunk. To shape the trees, limit their width, and achieve overall good density, cut the branches back up to a third of their length before the flush of growth in the spring or summer. Cut back any rogue branches that extend beyond the rest of the growth to maintain an attractive shape.
If the trees are growing too tall, cut the tops back to no more than one third of the trees’ height early in the year. This is called topping the trees. Choose a spot where the existing branches will hide the cut leader, and then the tallest of the top
*A slow-release granular fertilizer in early spring will fuel your hedge’s growth throughout the growing season.
Mulching
To retain moisture at the roots, spread 2” to 3” of mulch out to the dripline of the trees, making sure to keep it away from the base of the tree trunks. Most types of mulch are suitable for this, including bark, leaf, and even rock.
*A 2-3” layer of mulch over the hedge’s root zone helps regulate soil temperature and conserve moisture.
Growing Green Giant Arborvitae in Containers
Green Giant Arborvitae can be successfully grown in containers as accents around a pool, patio, or front entrance. Choose a large pot, 18” to 24” in diameter, or a half barrel for trees 6’ to 8’ high. Make sure there are holes in the bottom of the pot so that the water can drain. Water that collects in the pot can put your tree at risk for root rot. Use a loose, well-draining potting mix in the container so that there will be room for root expansion and air circulation. Do not use soil from the garden or a commercial garden or tree soil. It is too dense and compacts too quickly in a container, and will choke the roots.
Water your Green Giant when it is dry an inch down from the top of the soil. Always water thoroughly so that it runs through the soil and out the drainage holes. In warm weather, you will need to water every few days, but in the cold weather, you can water it every week or two.
Since it is growing in a pot, your Green Giant tree will need more frequent fertilization than if it is growing in the ground. You can use an all-purpose liquid fertilizer with a high nitrogen content every two weeks during the growing season. As an alternative, you can sprinkle granular all-purpose fertilizer on top of the soil and water it in thoroughly following the directions. Prune your tree at the top in the spring to keep it at the right height and around the sides if it’s growing too wide, using clean, sharp shears. Cut your tree back to no more than one-third of its size to encourage healthy growth.
Green Giant can be grown in containers for years.
