OT: Green Giant Arborvitae Advice

[Morrischiano]

So I’m looking to use Green Giant Arborvitae as a screen hedge along the front of my house- roughly 120 feet of street line. I was thinking of using 5-6 foot green Giant arborvitae. A few places in freehold are advertising 5-6 foot plants for $40 with winter pricing. I have a few questions:

1) are they deer resistant?
2) is March planting ok?
3) what spacing should I use?
4) how much do they grow once they are established?

There’s info on the Internet but often you get edge cases advertised as the norm. Looking for advice from people here. Thanks.

 

[jtung230]

On 1, deer do avoid it if there are other things to eat but still need to spray it during winter.

on 3, leave about at least 6 feet. They go about 5 feet wide.

 

[RU4Real]

Arborvitae are among a deer's favorite snacks. Drive around and you'll see lots of them that are basically denuded below the 4' mark.

They're also very susceptible to wind damage, particularly during nor'easters where you have a lot of wind and a lot of rain. Soften the ground around their roots, blow on 'em real hard and they fall right over.

 

[DHajekRC84]

Arborvitae are among a deer's favorite snacks. Drive around and you'll see lots of them that are basically denuded below the 4' mark.

They're also very susceptible to wind damage, particularly during nor'easters where you have a lot of wind and a lot of rain. Soften the ground around their roots, blow on 'em real hard and they fall right over.

THIS. I didn't spray or wrap mine in the back yard and they all look like 6 foot pricks!

 

[BigWill]

I've seen blue Spruce that seem to survive the damn deer, and they look nice as a border tree.

My "welcome mat" that has GO AWAY on the porch seems to work for the visitors that seem to be walking around on nice days.

Stagger them and have someone deliver AND plant them that will give you a guarantee to replace any that die.

 

[jtung230]

There are different types of Arborvitae. Some are more deer friendly than others.

 

[Morrischiano]

Arborvitae are among a deer's favorite snacks. Drive around and you'll see lots of them that are basically denuded below the 4' mark.

They're also very susceptible to wind damage, particularly during nor'easters where you have a lot of wind and a lot of rain. Soften the ground around their roots, blow on 'em real hard and they fall right over.

Thanks RU4. What would you suggest for a property screen?

 

[koleszar]

So I’m looking to use Green Giant Arborvitae as a screen hedge along the front of my house- roughly 120 feet of street line. I was thinking of using 5-6 foot green Giant arborvitae. A few places in freehold are advertising 5-6 foot plants for $40 with winter pricing. I have a few questions:

1) are they deer resistant?
2) is March planting ok?
3) what spacing should I use?
4) how much do they grow once they are established?

There’s info on the Internet but often you get edge cases advertised as the norm. Looking for advice from people here. Thanks.

Planted a hedge row of these along my 300' street front. One helluva lot of trees we planted. Went with a mound system as they're close to the road(about 12') so wanted to keep them out of the salt. It looks cool like a rampart separating us from the street also my 8'-9' now look 10'-12' tall.

1) Yes they are also Leyland Cypress. You chose wisely. They will nibble but quickly find inedible. Told neighbor to plant these he went with Emerald Green, nice smorgasbord for the deer this winter and now he has a hedge row of sticks. Mine after two years perfectly fine.

2) Yes it's the best time. Still cool out and lots of rain means you don't have to water as much. They don't take a lot but for the 1st year you should water, once maybe twice a week during those heat waves. And stake them one on each side for 1st two years.

3) We went with 6' to 7'. Didn't want to do the 10' as I'm not waiting 10 years for a privacy wall. Any closer and your tree roots will start choking each other and you might have some tree loss. You can shorten this by planting two rows.

4)After about two years fast like 1'6" to 2'6" a year.

 

[Knight Shift]

Thanks RU4. What would you suggest for a property screen?

I prefer Leland cypress. Warning, however, they grow rapidly, and you need to plan how far from the road you plant them. We have done well in buying on sale at Landex in Freehold/Howell.

In line with what @RU4Real said- when we purchased our house, the pool was lined with aborvitae that wee ugly and diseased. The bottom 4 feet were dead or nonexistent, likely due to deer snacking on them. We transplanted them to another part of the yard, and our next step is to remove them completely.

 

[Njbound1]

I’m looking to plant a 200’ privacy screen as well, between my yard and the neighbors. I’ve researched and read where the Green Giant gets good marks for deer resistance, which surprised me, since most Arbor Vitae are like candy for deer. I also am leaning towards Leyland Cypress. Good deer resistance, fast growing and low maintenance.

 

[Jm0513]

So I’m looking to use Green Giant Arborvitae as a screen hedge along the front of my house- roughly 120 feet of street line. I was thinking of using 5-6 foot green Giant arborvitae. A few places in freehold are advertising 5-6 foot plants for $40 with winter pricing. I have a few questions:

1) are they deer resistant?
2) is March planting ok?
3) what spacing should I use?
4) how much do they grow once they are established?

There’s info on the Internet but often you get edge cases advertised as the norm. Looking for advice from people here. Thanks.

My parents home in Jackson... I found this hysterical because when my mom mentioned it I had no idea the extent of damage. My dad wants to go out there and shoot them but instead he sprayed something.

before the deer made a meal out of them :Laughing

 

[BigWill]

I read somewhere that it is estimated that there are more White Tail Deer in American NOW than at the time of the Revolutionary War.

Deer season in Sussex County we used to park in various areas with the Ambulance Squads and wait for the shot 'hunters'.

Vets told me it sounded like "Nam" out there.

 

[JRZEER]

There are different types of Arborvitae. Some are more deer friendly than others.

I planted 2’-3’ along my back fence line 2.5 years ago. They are over 8’ tall already and very full. Love sun and water.

 

[koleszar]

My parents home in Jackson... I found this hysterical because when my mom mentioned it I had no idea the extent of damage. My dad wants to go out there and shoot them but instead he sprayed something.

Wrong type of Arborvitae to plant. Those are the Emerald Green's deer love them.

 

[koleszar]

I’m looking to plant a 200’ privacy screen as well, between my yard and the neighbors. I’ve researched and read where the Green Giant gets good marks for deer resistance, which surprised me, since most Arbor Vitae are like candy for deer. I also am leaning towards Leyland Cypress. Good deer resistance, fast growing and low maintenance.

We have both. Green Giant along street front and Leyland Cypress along side. One thing we found you do have to train the Leyland Cypress through pruning and re-staking to get them to grow straight. Other than that pretty much hands free.

When we planted mound(street front) and in the ground(side) we mixed the soil with our compost pile and dug extra big about 3' to 4' diameter to get them all the nutrients they needed. Mound we found easier as I have a front loader and simply put plants on ground cover with dirt and mulch. Also watered for the 1st year. Out of 58 trees planted I didn't lose a single one.

 

[Morrischiano]

My parents home in Jackson... I found this hysterical because when my mom mentioned it I had no idea the extent of damage. My dad wants to go out there and shoot them but instead he sprayed something.

before the deer made a meal out of them :Laughing

Is that Leland Cyprus or green Giant?

 

[RU4Real]

Thanks RU4. What would you suggest for a property screen?

As others have said, the Leland Cyprus is a solid choice. We've got a couple of them, the deer don't seem interested. Hell, as of a couple nights ago they seem much more interested in greeting my wife when she pulls up the driveway.

 

[koleszar]

As others have said, the Leland Cyprus is a solid choice. We've got a couple of them, the deer don't seem interested. Hell, as of a couple nights ago they seem much more interested in greeting my wife when she pulls up the driveway.

I have had the living sh*t scared out of me while walking to my shop at night by snorting deer on several occasions. I mean the jump in fright run like a fvcking bear is chasing me scared sh*tless until I see their beady eyes caught in the moon light. I now have lights set on a timer on the shop.

 

[Jm0513]

Is that Leland Cyprus or green Giant?

My mother said those are Emerald. She then asked if I was becoming a botanist. [roll] These are Leyland Cypress ..this is a txt screenshot(That's also our family pet cemetery, lol different OT)My cousin did all the landscaping/planting.

 

[Jm0513]

I have had the living sh*t scared out of me while walking to my shop at night by snorting deer on several occasions. I mean the jump in fright run like a fvcking bear is chasing me scared sh*tless until I see their beady eyes caught in the moon light. I now have lights set on a timer on the shop.

I asked my mom how the hell she never saw anything in the yard she replied in all the time they've lived there she saw one buck running through doing 90. Haha

 

[Extra Point]

There is a soccer field near me and he planted forsythia as a barrier to the road. It is more of a bush than a tree and has yellow flowers in the spring. Deer do not eat it, as my neighbor has one that must be 20 years old in his front yard. It would need trimming once every few years. It will end up looking like this

 

[Extra Point]

The ultimate barrier is bamboo. However I highly recommend not planting bamboo, they send roots out 50 feet or more and you will see bamboo shoots sprouting up all over the yard. I think it is now illegal to plant bamboo in NJ.

 

[Knight Shift]

There is a soccer field near me and he planted forsythia as a barrier to the road. It is more of a bush than a tree and has yellow flowers in the spring. Deer do not eat it, as my neighbor has one that must be 20 years old in his front yard. It would need trimming once every few years. It will end up looking like this

But not much of a barrier in the winter months. Our yard is packed with these bushes, and we have been slowly thinning out the mass of them. They are nice looking in the Spring.

 

[Knight Ed]

There is a soccer field near me and he planted forsythia as a barrier to the road. It is more of a bush than a tree and has yellow flowers in the spring. Deer do not eat it, as my neighbor has one that must be 20 years old in his front yard. It would need trimming once every few years. It will end up looking like this

Very hardy but pretty drab when not yellow. Also deciduous so no leaves in the winter.
Leyland Cypress would do the job as someone suggested but again not the showiest tree and you just get a plain green bushy wall. I personally prefer mixing different types of evergreens as a screen. Looks better but you need a little room to do a nice job as they look best when not planted in a straight row.

 

[Pils86]

I am in NE Bergen County and planted three green giants in fall of 18 and the deer destroyed them that winter. Maybe I didn't get the right ones but it seems like late winter they will eat anything. They even ate the two new rhodies down to the wood , which was annoying as they had such great buds on them. They ate the two boxwoods or similar type shrubs I also planted. The eat my forsythia in the spring. I have come to the conclusion I need to plant things with thorned leaves or needles. I am looking for deer resistant, maintenance free, grow in partial sun and grow fast, but maybe there is nothing out there like that, but at minimum I need deer resistant because if not I have nothing after a year.

 

[OTBOTOR]

The ultimate barrier is bamboo. However I highly recommend not planting bamboo, they send roots out 50 feet or more and you will see bamboo shoots sprouting up all over the yard. I think it is now illegal to plant bamboo in NJ.

There are “clumping” varieties that do not spread. I don’t recall the names of the varieties but have seen them on some garden shows.

 

[jtung230]

have you tried spaying deer repellent? Minimal maintenance.

 

[Pils86]

Have not done deer repellent, don't want to get into regular maintenance, thought I bought shrubs they did not go for.

 

[koleszar]

I am in NE Bergen County and planted three green giants in fall of 18 and the deer destroyed them that winter. Maybe I didn't get the right ones but it seems like late winter they will eat anything. They even ate the two new rhodies down to the wood , which was annoying as they had such great buds on them. They ate the two boxwoods or similar type shrubs I also planted. The eat my forsythia in the spring. I have come to the conclusion I need to plant things with thorned leaves or needles. I am looking for deer resistant, maintenance free, grow in partial sun and grow fast, but maybe there is nothing out there like that, but at minimum I need deer resistant because if not I have nothing after a year.

Here's a guide next time you want to plant.

Thuja Green Giant Arborviate- Deer resistant

Emerald Green Arborviate- Deer smorgasbord

 

[jtung230]

Have not done deer repellent, don't want to get into regular maintenance, thought I bought shrubs they did not go for.

It’s minimal work. I have someone apply it one a month

 

[newell138]

They also don’t like bay water. Sandy destroyed all mine I had as a privacy fence between my neighbor and I. So keep that in mind!

 

[Pils86]

Thanks Kol, I thought I bought Thujas, maybe not or they were mislabeled, but they seem to eat anything without thorn/needles late winter. Maybe I'll see about landscapers if they will put them in and guarantee the deer will not eat them.

Thanks Jtung, looking for maintenance free, I imagine the service cost a few hundred per year. I guess if it is part of regular lawn service it might be cheaper.

 

[Scarlet Haze]

I have them and the bottom 4 feet are bare. I don't have deer as I have a stockade fence, but I think they just die at the bottom on their own......avoid them

 

[RU85inFla]

I read somewhere that it is estimated that there are more White Tail Deer in American NOW than at the time of the Revolutionary War.

Deer season in Sussex County we used to park in various areas with the Ambulance Squads and wait for the shot 'hunters'.

Vets told me it sounded like "Nam" out there.

We probably have more deer now than during the Revolutionary War. Its partly because we have a shitload less buffalo, wolf and bear etc.

 

[phs73rc77gsm83]

We probably have more deer now than during the Revolutionary War. Its partly because we have a shitload less buffalo, wolf and bear etc.

I’ve lived on the same street for 60 years. The town used to allow a two week hunting season back in the sixties and maybe early 70s. They banned that and now I probably have 50 deer through my yard daily. Deer shit everywhere. You go out to throw the ball around and there is a mess everywhere. Plus the deer have really screwed up the eco system here.

 

[RU85inFla]

I’ve lived on the same street for 60 years. The town used to allow a two week hunting season back in the sixties and maybe early 70s. They banned that and now I probably have 50 deer through my yard daily. Deer shit everywhere. You go out to throw the ball around and there is a mess everywhere. Plus the deer have really screwed up the eco system here.

No predator ===> Lots of deer.

 

[rulaw87]

We planted Green Giants last fall. We have dozens of deer that walk past them every day and show no interest. I do spray them once every few weeks just to be sure. Takes about 5 minutes.

 

[tom1944]

I like Leland Cypress better

 

[WhoRU?]

At my first house, I planted a row of 7 foot arborvitae as a border. Deer loved them. Ate them right up to about the five foot mark the first winter. There after; I had a row of 7 foot green peckers on the side of the house.

 

[jtung230]

Thanks Kol, I thought I bought Thujas, maybe not or they were mislabeled, but they seem to eat anything without thorn/needles late winter. Maybe I'll see about landscapers if they will put them in and guarantee the deer will not eat them.

Thanks Jtung, looking for maintenance free, I imagine the service cost a few hundred per year. I guess if it is part of regular lawn service it might be cheaper.

If a landscaper guarantees it, do not hire that person.