Plant Thuja Green Giant This Fall for a Living Privacy Wall
Cool autumn soil helps roots settle before winter. One row gives you year-round screening, softer wind, and shelter for songbirds along your property line.
Why Fall Is a Strong Window for Privacy Planting
- A single row of Green Giants can block road noise, headlights, and neighbor sightlines within a few seasons
- Decide how far apart to plant arborvitae before you dig — mature width drives spacing, not the size of the tree in your hand
- Water deeply once a week until the ground freezes, even after the foliage stops looking thirsty
- Confirm your hardiness zone and average first-frost date — timing shifts by weeks across a single state
- Mulch 2-3 inches deep, pulled back from the trunk, to slow soil freeze and hold moisture
Our Top Pick for a Fast Evergreen Privacy Screen
Thuja Green Giant: The Privacy Tree We Plant Most
This hybrid of Western Red Cedar and Japanese Arborvitae holds a naturally conical shape on its own, so you can skip the pruning. It puts on 3 to 5 feet a year in good conditions and matures at 40 to 60 feet tall by 12 to 18 feet wide. We ship it bare-root, nursery-grown and grower-direct, which is why planting arborvitae in fall works so well here. Give it full sun to partial shade, moderate water, and moist, slightly acidic, well-drained soil. One honest caution: plan for that mature spread.
- Rich green foliage that holds its color through winter, with dense growth in full sun
- Fast 3–5 feet of height per year, hardy in Zones 5–8 and listed through Zone 9
- Deer-resistant and nearly pest-free, offering shelter for birds and small mammals
How to Plant Your Fall Privacy Row, Step by Step
Fall is our favorite window for this job. Cool air and warm soil push root growth without the heat stress. Here's how we set a thuja green giant row that fills in fast.
The Planting Steps
- Pick a bright spot. Six hours of sun, and room for 12 feet of mature width. Skip low ground that stays wet.
- Lay out the row first. Run a string line and mark each spot before you dig.
- Set your spacing. See below.
- Dig wide, not deep. Make the hole two to three times the root width. Keep the depth the same.
- Find the root flare. It sits at or just above finished grade. Never bury it.
- Backfill with native soil. Then water deeply and slowly.
- Add 2 to 3 inches of mulch. Pull it back a few inches from each trunk.
- Keep watching moisture. Check through fall and during dry winter thaws.
How far apart to plant arborvitae?
We plant at 5 to 6 feet on center for a solid screen. Tighter spacing closes the gaps sooner. Wider green giant arborvitae spacing gives each tree its own shape and better airflow.
Bare root arborvitae care: keep roots moist and shaded, plant within a day or two, spread the roots naturally, and soak the soil well.
Before the Cold Hits
Skip high-nitrogen fertilizer this late. Refresh mulch after planting. Screen young evergreen arborvitae from harsh wind in exposed sites.
Three things cause most failures: soggy soil, planting too deep, and crowding. Avoid those and you're fine. Browse more evergreen privacy screen trees, then decide whether Green Giant or the native American Arborvitae fits your yard.
Layer the Front Row: Boxwoods and Flowering Trees to Finish the Screen
A single row of Thuja Green Giant gives you the wall. These three finish the picture. Green Mountain Boxwood holds an upright shape at 3 to 5 feet tall and 2 to 4 feet wide, so it reads as a low structured hedge.
Green Giant Arborvitae: Your Questions Answered
How far apart should I plant Green Giant Arborvitae?
Plant thuja green giant 5 to 6 feet apart for a solid screen. That spacing lets the branches knit together without crowding. Keep in mind the mature width. Set the row far enough inside your property line so the tree doesn't grow over it.
How often should I water newly planted arborvitae in fall?
Water deeply rather than often. Check the soil a few inches down with your finger. If it's dry, soak the root zone slowly. Rainfall counts, so skip a session after a good storm. Keep watering until the ground freezes.
Should I mulch arborvitae after planting?
Yes. Use 2 to 3 inches of mulch for plants over the root zone. Pull it back a few inches from the trunk. Mulch piled against bark traps moisture and invites rot.
Can arborvitae be planted before cold weather?
Plant while the soil is still workable. Roots need time to settle before hard freezes arrive. Frost timing varies by region, so check your local first-frost date and plant a few weeks ahead of it.
Will Green Giant Arborvitae grow in Zone 9?
We list Green Giant for Zones 5 through 8. Choose evergreen privacy screen trees that match the hardiness range on the product page rather than assuming Zone 9 will work.
What should I do when my order arrives?
Open the box right away. Bare root arborvitae care starts with a quick inspection of the roots and stems. Our 24-hour live arrival guarantee requires you to report concerns within 24 hours with photos and your order number. Email customerservice@tennesseewholesalenursery.com.
What are your shipping and return terms?
We ship all items 3-4 day ground shipping. We do not offer refunds or accept returns, but we will reship if there's a problem. Once plants are dug, we can't cancel the order.
Conclusion
Key Takeaways
- Verify your zone before ordering — Green Giant performs in zones 5 through 9
- Green giant arborvitae spacing: 5 to 6 feet for a solid wall, 8 to 10 feet for specimen growth
- Fall planting lets roots settle before winter, with less heat stress than summer
- Keep mulch a few inches away from the trunk to prevent rot
- Water deeply and check moisture weekly until the ground freezes
