I see adds of these same trees that show only 3ft at the base and grow 20 to 30 ft. They are advertised as green giants , but look different from your photos. They are a brighter green and smaller column. Why?
I sell and/or and plant thousands of these trees a year. I shoot for 4 hours of direct sunlight per day minimum. Too much shade and they’ll get leggy. I personally love a specimen green Giant with enough space to reach it’s full potential, but they’re also super malleable. Some people would swear planting 3ft to center is a horrible idea, and it is, but with maintenance you can create and enjoy a beautiful privacy hedge. I’ve maintained a green giant 4ft wide and now it’s 13 /14ft tall on my own property. Super full and healthy. You just have to decide what aesthetic you would like. Alrighty, that’s my two cents lol
Thanks for the comment, Mike. I agree, they can be maintained at pretty much any size. Problem is, most homeowners aren't going to maintain them. They're going to buy them, plant them, and forget them. IMHO, if you need a smaller hedge, go with a smaller to plant. But, whatever makes you happy.
In the spring I planted about 50 of these that are two feet tall. Is five gallons of water per week in the heat of the summer (zone 6 A) sufficient or do they need more water?
Mike i recently planted 26 5’apart. I left them on-top of ground but covered with weed blocker material, top soil and small stones. My question is will they survive in these conditions or do i need to pull them before they damage or perish?
Hey Mike. After 4 years my Giant Arborvitae is growing in height and looking good. Planted 3’ on center. What would you recommend on having them fill out in width? Nice and green with a good height, but not filling out. Ty
Thank you for your candor and thank you for being so concise. I laughed when you said, "It is like getting a dog and chaining it to a tree". My neighbors have two mutts chained to two trees in their front yard!!!
Great video. I'm a huge green giant fan. Good example with the dieing swamp area. I've planted many of them on my property and watered them 7 days a week with a drip line, soaked. I've also rooted large branches in just a bucket of water, and they do great.. I've been confused hearing about over watering because it seemed to me i cannot possibly over water here. However i have a lot of sand. A swamp is no match for my fast draining sand soil. I think i understand now. Thanks for the explanation
You're probably right in thinking that "overwatering" has a lot to do with your soil. If you have very well draining soil, you probably can't overwater. If you have clay (like me), it could be done easily. The only real way I can tell if an area is too wet for planting is to see if that place stays wet for a very long time after rain. Does the ground stay soft and splashy for a week at a time, or more? That kind of thing.
I grow green giants in the exact same conditions as this example. Mine are doing amazingly well. The difference….. I placed the root balls directly on top of the ground….then built up the soil level around them by trucking in 5 yards of top soil, mulch, and pine bark. The main root ball stays dry while the tree grows ‘select’ hydrophobic roots into the soggy under layer. Just the way they grow in nature in the forest. My trees are the bomb 😂.
Hi, what about along a fence - how would they do there and how close can I plant them to the fence? The wood fence is about 6 ft tall with 1/4 inch spaces between the slats. No overhead trees. The fence line is 150 ft long, so how many do you recommend I need to make a quick, thick screen and how close to the wood fence can I put them? Thank you everyone for your opinions and suggestions.
If you are the type who will maintain them, you can plant them 5 feet apart and 5 feet from the fence. If you want to plant them and forget them, and not do yearly pruning, they need to be more like 8 feet apart. If left alone, at 5 feet apart, they will grow into the fence in a few years and give you trouble there. Obviously, the closer you plant them to the each other the faster you're going to have a solid fence of trees. There is some give and take.
Your videos are great and I've enjoyed the information. I have some green giants coming and I'll receive them this week sometime. I have a question. Is it too late to put in fertilizer this late in the season? Also, is there a good plant for or root booster that will help with its growth? Thanks alot!
For those planting Green Giants in the rocky mountains, just for reference I am in Colorado at 6500ft, i have to water it a ton! In winter when it hits 50degrees i water it. It dies off after each winter if i don't water it.
Thanks for the informative video. I planted 23 6-7ft green giants 5ft apart just under a month ago. I installed a drip irrigation system and each tree has a ring with 5 emitters that flow .5gal/hr. At first I ran it 2hrs every other day and I noticed the trees were starting to brown on the tips. Then I increased duration to 4hrs every day. The browning has continued at the top and tips of some trees. I've dug down to check soil and it is still moist but not soaking-water logged like. I am beginning to think I was over watering. 10gal of water per tree daily I think was too much. I've dialed it back this week to 2hrs every 3 days. There is so much conflicting information on watering newly planted green giants. Some say every day, some say once or so a week. I'm struggling to identify the problem here. Could it be transplant shock? They were root ball specimens with 24" root balls if that helps. My soil is clay but the ground drains very well. Thanks!
I can't be sure but that seems like way too much water to me. Obviously, those newly planted trees will need some watering if there's no rain, but I would cut that back to twice a week unless you have extraordinarily bad heat and/or drought conditions. Best of luck with you with your growing!
Always hate to lose the mature ones. Lost two 12 footers right next to each other over a relatively mild winter. Now there's a big hole in the line. I'm guessing it was some type of insect or disease since the other trees weren't effected.
What spacing do you recommend for double row? Or even single row? I did 8 foot center and 5 foot between rows so a bit over 6.5 foot diagonals. Is that a good distance? Too close? I don't want them to crowd but don't want them to never grow together as a screen either
All depends on how quickly you want them to form a solid wall. But what you're already done sounds great and you;re going to love that for years. And, since it's done, it's done. Also, the closer they are the harder time they will have growing to super-sized height. So, there's a trade-off between spacing, mature size, etc. Sounds like you've got a good plan.
The problem is the rainy season here in puetro rico. Tropical storms each year. But sold here often. But temperatures are between 70 and 90. As the heavy rains is the problem. In climatea that have wet and dry seasons. It's easier to add water in dry season vs remove it. Here people like to get more needle like trees vs planting only tropicals.
I just ordered some 3 ft Green Giant Thuja. It is mid-June here in southeast Michigan, zone 6. Should I wait until Fall to plant them? In the winter, should I wrap them?
A landscaper is trying to convince me to plant these 5' on center in a row to make a formal hedge. I don't like the idea of topping and pruning arborvitaes. What are your feelings about cutting these into hedges? I can see doing it to hollies or laurels, but not arborvitaes. Seems like they will be too susceptible to disease. Do you have experience with making them into hedges?
@@savvydirtfarmer Have you seen American Pillar Arborvitae? It looks pretty good. Nobody knows about them over here. I'm in NY, 7a. The only draw back with American Pillar is the are like sugar for rabbits. We have more rabbits here than people sometimes. Thanks for your help. I wish I were down south. My mom's from Memphis and the family is from Alabama.
Great videos thank you! I just planted 50 of these in my backyard. They are roughly 4’-5’. They were a little brown at the top of each one but it’s been a few days now and it seems like the brown is creeping a little more downward. Should I be worried or is it just shock?
I have never had the problem I've given these too much water. At one time I had 150 in pots and in the middle of summer I could not keep them watered properly and I noticed they thrived better in the shade then direct sun and I could put them in the kids swimming pool water for several weeks at a time and never had one die from being in the pool. The only problems I've ever had are bagworms and lack of water.
Hi, Great video! ❤️. Gonna plant me some Green Giants this spring. Was thinking of planting them 5-6 feet apart. Would that be good? Want a privacy screen result along my back property line.
Hey, I have a concrete wall behind my house roughly 144 feet long and 14 feet high. I have consulted a contractor and want to build the exact same wall 7 and a 1/2 feet out and then backfill it with soil. I have purchased roughly 40 Green Giant thujah which are already about 18 - 20 feet in hight. I am planning on building a privacy wall at the back of my prioerty and planting the trees 5 feet apart. There is a massive townhouse complex being build right behind my house and their balconies face directly into my yard. Judging the sun placement in my yard, id say the green giants would get between 2 - 4 hours of direct sunlight a day in the winter months from 2 p.m. - 4:30/5. In the summer, they may get 4 - 5 hours 12 - 530pm. I live in chilliwack B.C. so the weather only gets below 0 for around a month during the Winter months. Winter here it is basically overcast and raining. We plan to mulch the cedars and I will fertilize them in the spring every year. Any suggestions would be great.
Sounds like you've got a good thing going there and a good plan. The summer sun is what they really need, but even at 4-5 hours/day you'll be in good shape.
If I order a bunch of Green Giants now being February and live in upstate NY can I keep them in pots infill spring and then move outside when temps warm up some. Thanks.
Do these hold up good in Midwest strong winds/ and snow without breaking limbs?? I was gonna plant red cedars for a wind break and cover but these grow faster so I was considering these but don’t know much about them. Thanks for all the info.
Great video. I have 21 Green giants staggered along a pvc fence that is 100' long. Full sun and nothing overhead. At the one end of the row of trees must be a low end because when it rains it stays wet for several days. I'm noticing the trees in that area are getting yellowish tips and sections. What would be a remedy to possibly remove the ground water from that section that stays wet after rain falls?
Great video! My green giants are turning brown. They were planted a few months ago and looked great until 3 weeks ago. Is that normal for the fall in long Island NY?
Ty for all the Green G. Arborvitae vids. Question. My GGA are healthy but they haven’t grown in width. What can I do to help make them fill in and achieve the privacy requirements intended? I planted them 3’ apart. Ty
Great Video!! I have a noisey highway behind my house. I have about a 200' boundary line I'd like to cover. I have a fairly thin canopy of oak and maple trees running the entire length of my property but my back yard still gets plenty of sun. We have Clay soil that does stay damp through the winter and spring but dries out in summer months.....Do you recommend Green Giants for my situation? And if so. how close can I plant them to each other for a solid wall - I really don't want to stagger them. .... Thank you!
Does the soil stay soggy for months at a time? Really a judgement call on your end. You describe your soil as clay that stays damp in the winter. That should be fine. Spacing? Depends on how quickly you want them to be solid. Just 4-6 feet apart and they'll be a solid wall faster. However, they'll grow together and stunt their vertical growth to some degree as they crowd each other out. In most situations that's not a huge problem though, as most people are satisfied with a green wall that's 10-15' tall.
I just planted 20 green giants in a single line at 15ft apart… always in direct sunlight wide open… is 15ft too far apart to provide privacy in several years?
Great advice. Have a 200 feet fence to a busy street. Looking at 5 feet spacing so 40 but how far from the fence itself? Some sections get shade from some big redwoods, any way to work around that? Grow lights?
I would plan on about 5 feet from that fence to give yourself room to mow, if necessary, for a few years. But unless you trim them, eventually they will fill in that entire space as well. May be good or bad, just depending on your situation and what you want them to do.
Great video. I have about 6ft long 36 green giants planted, out of which two trees have wet soil and the i can see their color is light green what can I do save them? And 1 other tree has browning leaves inside the tree and the outside leaves look green, Is there anything wrong with this tree? Appreciate your response. Thanks!
If you have wet soil, it's really going to be hard to do much with that. Browning leaves on the inside? Some browning inside is natural due to the trees shading themselves out. As long as your outer branches are nice and green, you should be good to go!
I’ve been trying to grow 4 of these for the past 3 years, it barely looks like they’ve grown. However, they also haven’t died. I can’t figure out what’s going on be that too little water or if they’re getting water logged (clay).
I planted a row of giants on my property line as a wind screen in lower mid-michigan. These trees are used commonly in my area. I have about 1.5 miles of open land to my west, after the road commission cleared the trees on a N/S road .25 miles to my west, my property is now punished with constant wind. Would wind dyhdrate and slow growth? I have sandy loam soil that drains well. These trees have remained healthy, but have grown maybe 6 inches. A couple of years 40 trees I planted have grown to 3 feet. Several haven't grown an inch, but have filled out quite a bit. They are in full sun. What am I doing wrong!? I fertilized year 3, obviously didn't do anything. If I don't see any growth next spring I'm ripping them out and putting in some blue spruce!!!
No idea. Local/specific growing conditions vary so much it could be any of the things you mentioned... particularly the persistent wind - the only one you can't do anything about. But, I really can't say for sure.
No idea. Local/specific growing conditions vary so much it could be any of the things you mentioned... particularly the persistent wind - the only one you can't do anything about. But, I really can't say for sure.
I planted 50 trees along my property line about three years ago. It is in full sun. About two months ago we had some freezing rain which damaged the threes. Now they are brown/orange. Is there any way to save them?
I just planted 6 of the Green Giantsr on 10ft centers in a wide open space, 3 ft tall in zone 5. Well drained soil, I’ll probably water well every 3 days until established. Our weather gets very hot around 90 degrees to 100 degrees in July and August. Hopefully these trees are deer resistant as advertised. We’ll soon see.
I just got 10 2’ and 4 4’ thuja giant trees delivered to start a privacy row to block where this guy is building a house next to me (his back yard will be facing my back yard). Their is plenty of space but it’ll be facing south in a field . My plan is to keep them all potted in the garage all winter and water them every few days then plant in the spring around Memorial Day when most gardens get planted here in upstate NY. Will keeping them potted for 6-8 months be an issue when they are this small?
@@savvydirtfarmer I want to but it would be tough to get to them in the winter to water them. This field gets massive wind and snow from snow drifts (I’m in the lake effect snow belt). On the site I ordered them off of it says to water them for the first 6 months.. is this necessary in the winter?
water is not really necessary in winter unless you go through prolonged drought. Snow is an excellent insulator for plants as well. Just saying what I would do. Either way, you should be fine, but planting in fall is a great time because they still have time to root in before hard freeze sets in and they'll be ready to take off come Spring.@@dionysis84
Depends on how quickly you want them to form a solid screen. 8' for faster screen... 12-15' trees will get bigger, but take longer make a wall. You can do zig zag if you have the space... definitely makes a more solid barrier in time.
Do they need watering in the cold season (November) at all, or just wait for the snow? In West Texas we might not have rainfall again until Spring. I planted them 2 months ago, and are 5-6 feet tall.
They can't go months without water... even in winter. But, watering requirements are very minimal in colder months. You'd have to go quite a long time this time of year with zero rain for them to need watering
@@NorceCodine You have unique watering needs for sure. Don't keep them soaked. Don't let them dry out. Nearly anywhere in the middle they should be fine... like most any other plants.
When looking for green giants that are pretty small (few feet), how can I distinguish them from other types of arborvitae? Is there a feature or indication that makes it obvious it’s a green giant?
Do you mean when you're out driving around? They are thinly branched near the top and much taller than they are wide. Mature ones are very tall, 30'+. They have a pretty distinct look. Google some pictures of them and you'll get a pretty good feel for what they look; then when you see them, you'll recognize them.
@@savvydirtfarmer Well I mean more like my buddy has property and he has a bunch of arborvitae‘s growing but they are really small. And I can’t tell if they are green giants or not. He’s going to give them to me but I only want them if they are green giants.
Thank you for your video. i understand green giant does not be put in the swamp or wet area, but do you know which ever green large prvivacy plant i could plant in zone 5 and grow very fast ? plus the place i want to put in my yard there would get very wet and little swamp after raining, but after rainning maybe one day it does not look so watering. I am just worred if I plant green giant, so do you know the others more like wet place? do appreciate you very much ,please let me know
How close to a septic tank can you plant one of these? I’m building a new home and the septic guy tore down a bunch of privacy trees without letting me know in advance. They changed the planned location of the septic tank without informing me. I’d like to plant One of these to replace the several large deciduous trees he demolished.
We have about 30 of these 20 ft high in a row that have grown together and sprouted a few trunks each which form a wall .. They are very wide and have leaves are on the very outside of the limbs now but they are bare 3 to 4 feet from the trunks , which may be from lack of sun getting to the middle , I don't know.. now the limbs are having trouble supporting themselves. I would like to cut them back but I don't know if I can cut them enough ( maybe a foot to a foot and a half or so) without getting to a bare branch. We had a landscaper cut a foot off the top for the last 3 yrs and the tops of the trees is bright green and looks great. Any suggestions on what to do , like how far can I safely cut them back ,would be greatly appreciated ....
I would be careful about cutting them back real hard as mature trees. Evergreens of any kind have a hard time coming back once their green has been cut off. Maybe experiment with one on the end and see how it responds before you cut to hacking on all of them.
@@picknanahgrinin664 Just dig a hole and plant them... preferably when it's not overly wet due to soil clumping- that's not good! Creates air pockets and roots will dry out. Don't plant them too deep... piling up dirt on the stem of the trees is no good. Nothing really special needs to be done.
@@savvydirtfarmer We planted in June 2022 multiple 7-10 ft. GGA for privacy purpose, 3 feets apart. Despite adequate water supply and sunshine, now half of them are dead. Not sure why. Our location is metro-NYC suburbs.
Any advise on keeping rabbits from killing them in winter? We have had to start shooting them. Soooo many. Guard dogs fo not consider them a threat so they just watch them hop right by them
my green giants are yellow when i received it and planted over a month ago and still yellowish. Does it take time to green up from transplanting or do I need to fertilize?
YOu may fertilize with a slow release fertilizer. BUT, take it easy on fertilizer and water. Make sure they don't dry out, but they do not need o be soaked often.
We just had a row of these planted (13) in our backyard for privacy, but half are really drying out, drooping, and losing their “needles”. We live in South Carolina and it’s been really hot and dry, but we are watering them every other day. I’m worried they’re dying but I’ve read other places this can happen. I’m just concerned we’re losing our investment and not sure what to do. Any advice?
Any advice? I planted about 30 1 ft giants 3.5 years ago, they are much more dense and a very green now but some have only grown .5 ft or less, a few have taken off and are about 2.5 ft tall now, they seem very stunted. Full sun, sandy loam, drains well.
@@savvydirtfarmer Will do, funny thing is, after I posted this we had a lot of rain. My trees have clearly taken off in the last month, wasn't expecting so much growth this late in the year.
I planted 2 green giants and 1 is brown on the inside and the other was brown on inside but now it is turning yellow and browning from bottom. I only watered 2 or 3 times a week but got same rain and it is pretty wet. It's been in ground for a month and a half. Any way to save it? Or possibly move it...
Don't move it unless it's dormant. It will probably die if you do. 2 or 3 waterings a week is plenty, if not too much, depending on your soil, weather, and such. A deep watering of a plant in the ground should be good for several days, even in high temperatures.
I planted 110 green giant seedlings in October. They are planted on a huge field that gets full sun. Most of them look brownish in color and have not grown any. I am having a difficult time keeping weeds out. Should I fertilize them? Any advice is appreciated!!
Not sure what you mean when you say "seedling," but if you're referring to something like a rooted cutting, they take some care to get them established in the ground when they're that small. If they are browning, it may be too late. Can't say for sure. The only fertilizer I ever use is slow release. I use Osmocote or Florikan.
@@mallorythurman4590 we have 25 green giant we planted last year. Our were turning a golden brown color also. We found out ours is due to winter and that's just what they do in the winter. They will green up late spring early summer. By the way I'm in northern Indiana so my winter might be different than yours.
As long as the plants are green on top , remove any weeds , mulch & if they are dry at finger depth water them thoroughly. If the growing tip is brown , you probably have a goner , weeds are voracious competition to young trees & if you fertilise them they will grow & take everything , so their removal is essential , a thick mulch will keep them down & preserve moisture.
@@Firode9856 Update.....These little trees fascinate me haha. They went from winter brown to bright green. We lost only a few trees. I use an organic fertilizer and make sure weeds are frequently removed. The weeds actually slowed down some. Mulch definitely helps! Thank you for the reply!!
Thank you for the video. I have a couple green giants that are now around 20’ and touching the neighbors pine tree canopy. So I had that pine pruned up another 18’ or so. Everything looks good 👍.
Yep I had smaller arborvitae shrub that died ina couple of weeks because I live in a bottom. When I figured out that a green giant is an arborvitae, I could have died. My neighbors are so noisey
Mine are turning brown/ orange color what can I do. They are still green in the inside but the outside it’s all brown. I’m trying not to lose the tree. What can I do?
Hard to say for sure. Sometimes they are known to go orange/brown due to too much water. Have you had excessive rain, or watered too much? Have they put on any new growth this year?
Hi there... Do you know who has the smallest green giants available for sale? I've looked around and can't seem to find the small ones. If you know of a local farm that has about 1,000 pcs please let me know!
I just bought 30 1 gallon plants from a “local” grower (hour and a half from me) in Ohio. $10 each. Found them in the Facebook marketplace. Been an excellent source for growers trying to offload product.
Hard to say... just depends on your circumstance. Your trees are going to grow bigger in the long run if you space them more. They're going to grow a solid wall faster if you put them closer. A minimum of 5 -6 feet spacing.
I notice that the green giants planted in the shady area had standing water around at least one tree. You didn't mention that, and said that location might be ok for success. Could you tell us how they are doing now, one year later?
That spacing is ideal, but most people making a privacy screen don;t want to wait 10 years or more for the trees to grow together, which would be the case if they were planted 15' apart.
Have emerald green..not giant..These trees are nice looking to a landscape...But they suck ass...they're so freaking sensitive and finicky...I wouldn't buy these in the future.
Green Giants are a fabulous choice for screening trees, especially when you have a large space to fill!
Not if you're the neighbor whose yard is in the shadow of the tree for most of the day. Yes. it's THAT big!
I see adds of these same trees that show only 3ft at the base and grow 20 to 30 ft. They are advertised as green giants , but look different from your photos. They are a brighter green and smaller column. Why?
I sell and/or and plant thousands of these trees a year. I shoot for 4 hours of direct sunlight per day minimum. Too much shade and they’ll get leggy. I personally love a specimen green Giant with enough space to reach it’s full potential, but they’re also super malleable. Some people would swear planting 3ft to center is a horrible idea, and it is, but with maintenance you can create and enjoy a beautiful privacy hedge. I’ve maintained a green giant 4ft wide and now it’s 13 /14ft tall on my own property. Super full and healthy. You just have to decide what aesthetic you would like. Alrighty, that’s my two cents lol
Thanks for the comment, Mike. I agree, they can be maintained at pretty much any size. Problem is, most homeowners aren't going to maintain them. They're going to buy them, plant them, and forget them. IMHO, if you need a smaller hedge, go with a smaller to plant. But, whatever makes you happy.
In the spring I planted about 50 of these that are two feet tall. Is five gallons of water per week in the heat of the summer (zone 6 A) sufficient or do they need more water?
Mike i recently planted 26 5’apart. I left them on-top of ground but covered with weed blocker material, top soil and small stones. My question is will they survive in these conditions or do i need to pull them before they damage or perish?
How do you prune a 3 ft green giant?
Hey Mike. After 4 years my Giant Arborvitae is growing in height and looking good. Planted 3’ on center. What would you recommend on having them fill out in width? Nice and green with a good height, but not filling out. Ty
Thank you so much for this video, Sir. I just purchased my first green giant and you gave me great information. Have a nice day.
Thank you for your candor and thank you for being so concise. I laughed when you said, "It is like getting a dog and chaining it to a tree". My neighbors have two mutts chained to two trees in their front yard!!!
That neighbour is an animal abuser leaving his dogs chained up like that
I am glad that I view your video before I grow my green giant trees. Thank you :-)
thank you
Great video. I'm a huge green giant fan. Good example with the dieing swamp area. I've planted many of them on my property and watered them 7 days a week with a drip line, soaked. I've also rooted large branches in just a bucket of water, and they do great.. I've been confused hearing about over watering because it seemed to me i cannot possibly over water here. However i have a lot of sand. A swamp is no match for my fast draining sand soil. I think i understand now. Thanks for the explanation
You're probably right in thinking that "overwatering" has a lot to do with your soil. If you have very well draining soil, you probably can't overwater. If you have clay (like me), it could be done easily. The only real way I can tell if an area is too wet for planting is to see if that place stays wet for a very long time after rain. Does the ground stay soft and splashy for a week at a time, or more? That kind of thing.
Thanks for this. Just purchased 10 Green Giants. Thankfully we have the space. Thanks for the tips too :)
I grow green giants in the exact same conditions as this example. Mine are doing amazingly well. The difference…..
I placed the root balls directly on top of the ground….then built up the soil level around them by trucking in 5 yards of top soil, mulch, and pine bark. The main root ball stays dry while the tree grows ‘select’ hydrophobic roots into the soggy under layer.
Just the way they grow in nature in the forest. My trees are the bomb 😂.
I really do like your videos and how you take your time to explain to beginners like me. Thank you.
Glad to help
If planting before dry season highly recommend planting these with water absorbing gel crystals. Will save you so much effort
Hi, what about along a fence - how would they do there and how close can I plant them to the fence? The wood fence is about 6 ft tall with 1/4 inch spaces between the slats. No overhead trees. The fence line is 150 ft long, so how many do you recommend I need to make a quick, thick screen and how close to the wood fence can I put them? Thank you everyone for your opinions and suggestions.
If you are the type who will maintain them, you can plant them 5 feet apart and 5 feet from the fence. If you want to plant them and forget them, and not do yearly pruning, they need to be more like 8 feet apart. If left alone, at 5 feet apart, they will grow into the fence in a few years and give you trouble there. Obviously, the closer you plant them to the each other the faster you're going to have a solid fence of trees. There is some give and take.
Your videos are great and I've enjoyed the information. I have some green giants coming and I'll receive them this week sometime. I have a question. Is it too late to put in fertilizer this late in the season? Also, is there a good plant for or root booster that will help with its growth? Thanks alot!
Fertilize with a slow release, like Osmocote. Probaby don't even need to do that
Very informative. Thank you. This confirms my decision. Are they more than one species of the green giant?
"Green Giant" is a species off Thuja, so GG IS the species.
For those planting Green Giants in the rocky mountains, just for reference I am in Colorado at 6500ft, i have to water it a ton! In winter when it hits 50degrees i water it. It dies off after each winter if i don't water it.
Good tips!
They are so beautiful! Thanks for all the pointers on growing plants!
Thanks for the informative video. I planted 23 6-7ft green giants 5ft apart just under a month ago. I installed a drip irrigation system and each tree has a ring with 5 emitters that flow .5gal/hr. At first I ran it 2hrs every other day and I noticed the trees were starting to brown on the tips. Then I increased duration to 4hrs every day. The browning has continued at the top and tips of some trees. I've dug down to check soil and it is still moist but not soaking-water logged like. I am beginning to think I was over watering. 10gal of water per tree daily I think was too much. I've dialed it back this week to 2hrs every 3 days. There is so much conflicting information on watering newly planted green giants. Some say every day, some say once or so a week. I'm struggling to identify the problem here. Could it be transplant shock? They were root ball specimens with 24" root balls if that helps. My soil is clay but the ground drains very well. Thanks!
I can't be sure but that seems like way too much water to me. Obviously, those newly planted trees will need some watering if there's no rain, but I would cut that back to twice a week unless you have extraordinarily bad heat and/or drought conditions. Best of luck with you with your growing!
@@savvydirtfarmer Thank you for the reply. I will cut back and see what happens. 👍
had the same thing. but after cutting the water and adding some fertilizer they all turned green, actually they also grew about 1 foot from march
@@BrutalniyEagle Thanks. Yes I’ve cut back water a lot and they have bounced back nicely.
I hade the same probleme, how much watering you did per week to make them green again, thanks
Excellent advice
thank you!
soooo helpful...thank you!
Always hate to lose the mature ones. Lost two 12 footers right next to each other over a relatively mild winter. Now there's a big hole in the line. I'm guessing it was some type of insect or disease since the other trees weren't effected.
What spacing do you recommend for double row? Or even single row? I did 8 foot center and 5 foot between rows so a bit over 6.5 foot diagonals. Is that a good distance? Too close? I don't want them to crowd but don't want them to never grow together as a screen either
All depends on how quickly you want them to form a solid wall. But what you're already done sounds great and you;re going to love that for years. And, since it's done, it's done. Also, the closer they are the harder time they will have growing to super-sized height. So, there's a trade-off between spacing, mature size, etc. Sounds like you've got a good plan.
Thanks for this video! Did you ever do a video on alternatives to green giants? Not as tall, but same look and privacy screening. Steeplechase maybe?
Try this ua-cam.com/video/69xiDqIuu8s/v-deo.html
Also, just checked out your channel. Our families have A LOT in common.
Emeralds are not as deer resistant. If you need deer resistant try junior green giants or baby green giants. Or Oakland holly
The problem is the rainy season here in puetro rico. Tropical storms each year. But sold here often. But temperatures are between 70 and 90. As the heavy rains is the problem. In climatea that have wet and dry seasons. It's easier to add water in dry season vs remove it. Here people like to get more needle like trees vs planting only tropicals.
Excellent video on the subject!
I just ordered some 3 ft Green Giant Thuja. It is mid-June here in southeast Michigan, zone 6. Should I wait until Fall to plant them? In the winter, should I wrap them?
I’d plant now and keep well watered.
A landscaper is trying to convince me to plant these 5' on center in a row to make a formal hedge. I don't like the idea of topping and pruning arborvitaes. What are your feelings about cutting these into hedges? I can see doing it to hollies or laurels, but not arborvitaes. Seems like they will be too susceptible to disease. Do you have experience with making them into hedges?
It can work, but it's going to be a constant battle to keep them pruned. They grow very fast and will constantly try to sent shoots out the top.
@@savvydirtfarmer Have you seen American Pillar Arborvitae? It looks pretty good. Nobody knows about them over here. I'm in NY, 7a. The only draw back with American Pillar is the are like sugar for rabbits. We have more rabbits here than people sometimes. Thanks for your help. I wish I were down south. My mom's from Memphis and the family is from Alabama.
Great videos thank you! I just planted 50 of these in my backyard. They are roughly 4’-5’. They were a little brown at the top of each one but it’s been a few days now and it seems like the brown is creeping a little more downward. Should I be worried or is it just shock?
Give it time… like until June.
I have never had the problem I've given these too much water. At one time I had 150 in pots and in the middle of summer I could not keep them watered properly and I noticed they thrived better in the shade then direct sun and I could put them in the kids swimming pool water for several weeks at a time and never had one die from being in the pool. The only problems I've ever had are bagworms and lack of water.
Where u located? Love your Murray State shirt!!!
West TN
at the 5 minute part of video - what is the browning of leaves in the middle of the row and what caused that?
No telling
Hi,
Great video! ❤️. Gonna plant me some Green Giants this spring. Was thinking of planting them 5-6 feet apart. Would that be good? Want a privacy screen result along my back property line.
That will be good. Won't take long for them to fill in nicely.
Hey, good idea to grow these near farm/crop field where it meets yard. Are they strong against winds/storms?
Once established, they would do fine.
Do they work as a sound barrier also? I live in the country and I'm right off of the highway. So, there's cars and trucks that are super load.
Probably some, but not as good as a concrete wall. I wouldn't consider sound the selling point.
Hey,
I have a concrete wall behind my house roughly 144 feet long and 14 feet high. I have consulted a contractor and want to build the exact same wall 7 and a 1/2 feet out and then backfill it with soil.
I have purchased roughly 40 Green Giant thujah which are already about 18 - 20 feet in hight. I am planning on building a privacy wall at the back of my prioerty and planting the trees 5 feet apart. There is a massive townhouse complex being build right behind my house and their balconies face directly into my yard.
Judging the sun placement in my yard, id say the green giants would get between 2 - 4 hours of direct sunlight a day in the winter months from 2 p.m. - 4:30/5. In the summer, they may get 4 - 5 hours 12 - 530pm.
I live in chilliwack B.C. so the weather only gets below 0 for around a month during the Winter months. Winter here it is basically overcast and raining.
We plan to mulch the cedars and I will fertilize them in the spring every year.
Any suggestions would be great.
Sounds like you've got a good thing going there and a good plan. The summer sun is what they really need, but even at 4-5 hours/day you'll be in good shape.
If I order a bunch of Green Giants now being February and live in upstate NY can I keep them in pots infill spring and then move outside when temps warm up some. Thanks.
I would get them and just pot them now and leave them outside.
Do these hold up good in Midwest strong winds/ and snow without breaking limbs?? I was gonna plant red cedars for a wind break and cover but these grow faster so I was considering these but don’t know much about them. Thanks for all the info.
Best thing to do is look around your area. Do you see them? Are they thriving? They are very common trees, so that's where I would start.
Great video. I have 21 Green giants staggered along a pvc fence that is 100' long. Full sun and nothing overhead. At the one end of the row of trees must be a low end because when it rains it stays wet for several days. I'm noticing the trees in that area are getting yellowish tips and sections. What would be a remedy to possibly remove the ground water from that section that stays wet after rain falls?
hard to do much about it without moving a lot of dirt to build some kind of berm to re-route the water or putting in a big french drain.
How close are your trees to your fence? Did they cause any damage to your fence as they grew or any other problems?
Thank you for this video, it really helps , keep it up..
Glad it helped
Great video! My green giants are turning brown. They were planted a few months ago and looked great until 3 weeks ago. Is that normal for the fall in long Island NY?
Don’t know anything about Long Island, but they should hold green all year. Time will tell for sure.
Ty for all the Green G. Arborvitae vids. Question. My GGA are healthy but they haven’t grown in width. What can I do to help make them fill in and achieve the privacy requirements intended? I planted them 3’ apart. Ty
Give them time. They know what to do.
If they are the height you want start pruning the top, thats going to make them grow on the sides more
Great Video!! I have a noisey highway behind my house. I have about a 200' boundary line I'd like to cover. I have a fairly thin canopy of oak and maple trees running the entire length of my property but my back yard still gets plenty of sun. We have Clay soil that does stay damp through the winter and spring but dries out in summer months.....Do you recommend Green Giants for my situation? And if so. how close can I plant them to each other for a solid wall - I really don't want to stagger them. .... Thank you!
Does the soil stay soggy for months at a time? Really a judgement call on your end. You describe your soil as clay that stays damp in the winter. That should be fine. Spacing? Depends on how quickly you want them to be solid. Just 4-6 feet apart and they'll be a solid wall faster. However, they'll grow together and stunt their vertical growth to some degree as they crowd each other out. In most situations that's not a huge problem though, as most people are satisfied with a green wall that's 10-15' tall.
I just planted 20 green giants in a single line at 15ft apart… always in direct sunlight wide open… is 15ft too far apart to provide privacy in several years?
It will take 10+ years for them to grow together at that spacing, but they will be spectacular when they do.
Can I plant green giant trees 4 feet apart since my desired height is 25 to 30 feet?
You can do that close spacing, but they won't grow as tall... they'll get very crowded in just a few years.
Great advice. Have a 200 feet fence to a busy street. Looking at 5 feet spacing so 40 but how far from the fence itself? Some sections get shade from some big redwoods, any way to work around that? Grow lights?
I would plan on about 5 feet from that fence to give yourself room to mow, if necessary, for a few years. But unless you trim them, eventually they will fill in that entire space as well. May be good or bad, just depending on your situation and what you want them to do.
Great video. I have about 6ft long 36 green giants planted, out of which two trees have wet soil and the i can see their color is light green what can I do save them? And 1 other tree has browning leaves inside the tree and the outside leaves look green, Is there anything wrong with this tree? Appreciate your response. Thanks!
If you have wet soil, it's really going to be hard to do much with that. Browning leaves on the inside? Some browning inside is natural due to the trees shading themselves out. As long as your outer branches are nice and green, you should be good to go!
@@savvydirtfarmer thanks for your input!
@@vamk247x7 sure!
I’ve been trying to grow 4 of these for the past 3 years, it barely looks like they’ve grown. However, they also haven’t died. I can’t figure out what’s going on be that too little water or if they’re getting water logged (clay).
At the 5:00 mark those green giants look great! Have they been trimmed to make a clean wall? I’ve been told green giants don’t like to be trimmed..
Doubtful those have been trimmed at all since they were very young.
Bought 10 last weekend :)
I planted a row of giants on my property line as a wind screen in lower mid-michigan. These trees are used commonly in my area. I have about 1.5 miles of open land to my west, after the road commission cleared the trees on a N/S road .25 miles to my west, my property is now punished with constant wind. Would wind dyhdrate and slow growth? I have sandy loam soil that drains well. These trees have remained healthy, but have grown maybe 6 inches. A couple of years 40 trees I planted have grown to 3 feet. Several haven't grown an inch, but have filled out quite a bit. They are in full sun. What am I doing wrong!? I fertilized year 3, obviously didn't do anything. If I don't see any growth next spring I'm ripping them out and putting in some blue spruce!!!
No idea. Local/specific growing conditions vary so much it could be any of the things you mentioned... particularly the persistent wind - the only one you can't do anything about. But, I really can't say for sure.
No idea. Local/specific growing conditions vary so much it could be any of the things you mentioned... particularly the persistent wind - the only one you can't do anything about. But, I really can't say for sure.
Thank you for this video. How tall do you think they can get if you space them 6 feet apart?
25 or 30 feet I would imagine.
Thank you for the information!
Glad to share!
I planted 50 trees along my property line about three years ago. It is in full sun. About two months ago we had some freezing rain which damaged the threes. Now they are brown/orange. Is there any way to save them?
Give them time. They may perk up yet.
Great video!!!!
I just planted 6 of the Green Giantsr on 10ft centers in a wide open space, 3 ft tall in zone 5. Well drained soil, I’ll probably water well every 3 days until established. Our weather gets very hot around 90 degrees to 100 degrees in July and August. Hopefully these trees are deer resistant as advertised. We’ll soon see.
The deer eat the crap out of mine and my neighbors
Crap I was reading where deer didn’t particularly like the taste. I’ll have to put a fence around them
How far apart should they be planted ??
I just got 10 2’ and 4 4’ thuja giant trees delivered to start a privacy row to block where this guy is building a house next to me (his back yard will be facing my back yard). Their is plenty of space but it’ll be facing south in a field . My plan is to keep them all potted in the garage all winter and water them every few days then plant in the spring around Memorial Day when most gardens get planted here in upstate NY. Will keeping them potted for 6-8 months be an issue when they are this small?
They should be fine... plan sounds good, But, if I were you I'd plant them now.
@@savvydirtfarmer I want to but it would be tough to get to them in the winter to water them. This field gets massive wind and snow from snow drifts (I’m in the lake effect snow belt). On the site I ordered them off of it says to water them for the first 6 months.. is this necessary in the winter?
water is not really necessary in winter unless you go through prolonged drought. Snow is an excellent insulator for plants as well. Just saying what I would do. Either way, you should be fine, but planting in fall is a great time because they still have time to root in before hard freeze sets in and they'll be ready to take off come Spring.@@dionysis84
Great information!!
Thanks!
My newly planted green giants are turning yellow? It is getting chilly in my area, zone 7. Is that normal due to the change in seasin
Maybe a slight change in color, but yellowing is not usually a good thing. Nothing to do but give them time and you'll see.
how wide apart do you need to plant them? do you recommend zig zag planting
Depends on how quickly you want them to form a solid screen. 8' for faster screen... 12-15' trees will get bigger, but take longer make a wall. You can do zig zag if you have the space... definitely makes a more solid barrier in time.
Do they need watering in the cold season (November) at all, or just wait for the snow? In West Texas we might not have rainfall again until Spring. I planted them 2 months ago, and are 5-6 feet tall.
They can't go months without water... even in winter. But, watering requirements are very minimal in colder months. You'd have to go quite a long time this time of year with zero rain for them to need watering
@@savvydirtfarmer We haven't had a rain in 3 months. The only water they know is from the pipe.
@@NorceCodine You have unique watering needs for sure. Don't keep them soaked. Don't let them dry out. Nearly anywhere in the middle they should be fine... like most any other plants.
When looking for green giants that are pretty small (few feet), how can I distinguish them from other types of arborvitae? Is there a feature or indication that makes it obvious it’s a green giant?
Do you mean when you're out driving around? They are thinly branched near the top and much taller than they are wide. Mature ones are very tall, 30'+. They have a pretty distinct look. Google some pictures of them and you'll get a pretty good feel for what they look; then when you see them, you'll recognize them.
@@savvydirtfarmer Well I mean more like my buddy has property and he has a bunch of arborvitae‘s growing but they are really small. And I can’t tell if they are green giants or not. He’s going to give them to me but I only want them if they are green giants.
Thank you for your video. i understand green giant does not be put in the swamp or wet area, but do you know which ever green large prvivacy plant i could plant in zone 5 and grow very fast ? plus the place i want to put in my yard there would get very wet and little swamp after raining, but after rainning maybe one day it does not look so watering. I am just worred if I plant green giant, so do you know the others more like wet place? do appreciate you very much ,please let me know
Murray or Leyland Cypress, maybe? Check into those.
@@savvydirtfarmer thank you
Why do all those online encyclopedias say arborvitae are swamp or rainforest plants that prefer moist or wet soil?
How close to a septic tank can you plant one of these? I’m building a new home and the septic guy tore down a bunch of privacy trees without letting me know in advance. They changed the planned location of the septic tank without informing me. I’d like to plant One of these to replace the several large deciduous trees he demolished.
At least 15 feet, I'd say.
in europe, we plant these 60cm apart (less than two feet)
We have about 30 of these 20 ft high in a row that have grown together and sprouted a few trunks each which form a wall .. They are very wide and have leaves are on the very outside of the limbs now but they are bare 3 to 4 feet from the trunks , which may be from lack of sun getting to the middle , I don't know.. now the limbs are having trouble supporting themselves. I would like to cut them back but I don't know if I can cut them enough ( maybe a foot to a foot and a half or so) without getting to a bare branch. We had a landscaper cut a foot off the top for the last 3 yrs and the tops of the trees is bright green and looks great. Any suggestions on what to do , like how far can I safely cut them back ,would be greatly appreciated ....
I would be careful about cutting them back real hard as mature trees. Evergreens of any kind have a hard time coming back once their green has been cut off. Maybe experiment with one on the end and see how it responds before you cut to hacking on all of them.
@@savvydirtfarmer Ok ..Wiil Do ...Thanks so much for the help
Hello. Can these be planted in the winter if the ground is thawed? Jan or Feb??
Yes
@@savvydirtfarmer do you have any tips for planning them in the cold months. I might be planting 20 to 50 these on my property.
@@picknanahgrinin664 Just dig a hole and plant them... preferably when it's not overly wet due to soil clumping- that's not good! Creates air pockets and roots will dry out. Don't plant them too deep... piling up dirt on the stem of the trees is no good. Nothing really special needs to be done.
Do I need to add anything into the soil? Like potting soil, peat moss… or just add the dirt that came out of the hole?
How far apart the 10-feet green giants should be placed, in your opinion? Thanks
About 8 feet, but completely depends on what you're trying to do and how long you want to wait until you have a solid screen
@@savvydirtfarmer We planted in June 2022 multiple 7-10 ft. GGA for privacy purpose, 3 feets apart. Despite adequate water supply and sunshine, now half of them are dead. Not sure why. Our location is metro-NYC suburbs.
Thanks man!
They make dwarf varieties now :) junior, baby, and tiny tower :) range from 15ft-25ft tall and 6ft wide
Tons of varieties, that's for sure!
Any advise on keeping rabbits from killing them in winter? We have had to start shooting them. Soooo many. Guard dogs fo not consider them a threat so they just watch them hop right by them
Zero advice. But, you're obviously talking about very small green giants, so you may need to get some larger ones.
my green giants are yellow when i received it and planted over a month ago and still yellowish. Does it take time to green up from transplanting or do I need to fertilize?
YOu may fertilize with a slow release fertilizer. BUT, take it easy on fertilizer and water. Make sure they don't dry out, but they do not need o be soaked often.
We just had a row of these planted (13) in our backyard for privacy, but half are really drying out, drooping, and losing their “needles”. We live in South Carolina and it’s been really hot and dry, but we are watering them every other day. I’m worried they’re dying but I’ve read other places this can happen. I’m just concerned we’re losing our investment and not sure what to do. Any advice?
I doubt anything planted in the ground needs water every other day... that may be a bit much.
Any advice? I planted about 30 1 ft giants 3.5 years ago, they are much more dense and a very green now but some have only grown .5 ft or less, a few have taken off and are about 2.5 ft tall now, they seem very stunted. Full sun, sandy loam, drains well.
Hummm... that's a good question and I don't know the answer. Maybe try giving them a slow release fertilizer next Spring.
@@savvydirtfarmer Will do, funny thing is, after I posted this we had a lot of rain. My trees have clearly taken off in the last month, wasn't expecting so much growth this late in the year.
@@jappleseed6322 terribly hot, dry summer here too. Once it finally rained we got some surprise late season growth also.
I planted 2 green giants and 1 is brown on the inside and the other was brown on inside but now it is turning yellow and browning from bottom. I only watered 2 or 3 times a week but got same rain and it is pretty wet. It's been in ground for a month and a half. Any way to save it? Or possibly move it...
Don't move it unless it's dormant. It will probably die if you do. 2 or 3 waterings a week is plenty, if not too much, depending on your soil, weather, and such. A deep watering of a plant in the ground should be good for several days, even in high temperatures.
I planted 110 green giant seedlings in October. They are planted on a huge field that gets full sun. Most of them look brownish in color and have not grown any. I am having a difficult time keeping weeds out. Should I fertilize them? Any advice is appreciated!!
Not sure what you mean when you say "seedling," but if you're referring to something like a rooted cutting, they take some care to get them established in the ground when they're that small. If they are browning, it may be too late. Can't say for sure. The only fertilizer I ever use is slow release. I use Osmocote or Florikan.
@@savvydirtfarmer Thank you! They were 12 to 15 inches tall. Leaves are brownish in places
@@mallorythurman4590 we have 25 green giant we planted last year. Our were turning a golden brown color also. We found out ours is due to winter and that's just what they do in the winter. They will green up late spring early summer. By the way I'm in northern Indiana so my winter might be different than yours.
As long as the plants are green on top , remove any weeds , mulch & if they are dry at finger depth water them thoroughly. If the growing tip is brown , you probably have a goner , weeds are voracious competition to young trees & if you fertilise them they will grow & take everything , so their removal is essential , a thick mulch will keep them down & preserve moisture.
@@Firode9856 Update.....These little trees fascinate me haha. They went from winter brown to bright green. We lost only a few trees. I use an organic fertilizer and make sure weeds are frequently removed. The weeds actually slowed down some. Mulch definitely helps! Thank you for the reply!!
Thank you for the video. I have a couple green giants that are now around 20’ and touching the neighbors pine tree canopy. So I had that pine pruned up another 18’ or so. Everything looks good 👍.
Very nice!
Yep I had smaller arborvitae shrub that died ina couple of weeks because I live in a bottom. When I figured out that a green giant is an arborvitae, I could have died. My neighbors are so noisey
Thanks for the video and tips and whoa you’re a handsome guy lol
Nice write up
thank you
These trees needs lots of water, especially if you don't use soil additives like mulch, pine bark, compost or peat moss. Your water bill will be huge,
Mine are turning brown/ orange color what can I do. They are still green in the inside but the outside it’s all brown. I’m trying not to lose the tree. What can I do?
Hard to say for sure. Sometimes they are known to go orange/brown due to too much water. Have you had excessive rain, or watered too much? Have they put on any new growth this year?
Hi there... Do you know who has the smallest green giants available for sale? I've looked around and can't seem to find the small ones. If you know of a local farm that has about 1,000 pcs please let me know!
What do you mean by "local farm?" Where are you located, approximately?
@@savvydirtfarmer I'm in Los Angeles, but the farm can be anywhere in the US.
@@HYEMP3KING I'm in Oregon I can get these . Lot a major shrub farms in my area. What size?
@@concrete6928 smallest size available, so I can save on shipping costs. What sizes do you have & prices? Email me hyemp3king at gmail . c o m
I just bought 30 1 gallon plants from a “local” grower (hour and a half from me) in Ohio. $10 each. Found them in the Facebook marketplace. Been an excellent source for growers trying to offload product.
When can you propagate green giants
I do them in the summer under mist... you can watch my video on mist propagation
Mama always said the green arbavitus was like a box of chocolates
For single row spacing, how many feet do you recommend?
Hard to say... just depends on your circumstance. Your trees are going to grow bigger in the long run if you space them more. They're going to grow a solid wall faster if you put them closer. A minimum of 5 -6 feet spacing.
I notice that the green giants planted in the shady area had standing water around at least one tree. You didn't mention that, and said that location might be ok for success. Could you tell us how they are doing now, one year later?
That was probably water from a rain that day or the day before. It's not an area that stays wet long. They look great.
2 other major points u missed, mildew will come on the home side & or tree will grow terrible if at all on the house side!!
Good video though
Good point!
❤
Subbed
thanks!
everyone "in the business" tells me they need to be 15 ft apart, the info tag says they grow 12-20 feet wide fully grown and 50-60 ft tall
That spacing is ideal, but most people making a privacy screen don;t want to wait 10 years or more for the trees to grow together, which would be the case if they were planted 15' apart.
What kind of tree has leaves exactly like an arorvitae but doesn't look like a columnar arorvitae?
Trees grow much better in non racist climates.
It hurts to see that tree so close to that house 😫💔
It'll be OK for a while if they keep it sheared, but that thing will want to GROW, and nothing will stop the roots from going right under the house.
@@savvydirtfarmer Wow!
Have emerald green..not giant..These trees are nice looking to a landscape...But they suck ass...they're so freaking sensitive and finicky...I wouldn't buy these in the future.
I have both and love both.
Go big or gonhome
Can I plant green giant trees 4 feet apart since my desired height is 18 feet?
I'd go with a different arborvitae like Emerald Greens.
Sorry, my desired height is 25 feet, not 18 feet.