Everything To Know About Green Giant Arborvitae
Published On: Nov 21, 2023
Updated On: Jun 22, 2026
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If you are looking for a fast-growing evergreen tree for privacy, Green Giant Arborvitae is one of the first plants I would recommend. It grows quickly, holds its rich green color through the seasons, and creates the kind of living privacy screen that makes a backyard feel more peaceful and finished.
Green Giant Arborvitae, also called Thuja Green Giant or Thuja plicata x standishii 'Green Giant,' is a large evergreen privacy tree known for its dense pyramidal shape, soft scale-like foliage, and dependable growth. Homeowners use it for privacy hedges, windbreaks, property borders, driveway screens, and tall evergreen backdrops.
What makes Green Giant Arborvitae so useful is that it solves a real landscape problem without a lot of fuss. If you need to block a view, soften a fence line, create privacy from neighbors, or add year-round structure to a large space, this is one of the best privacy trees to consider.
The trick is giving it what it needs from the start: the right spacing, good sunlight, well-drained soil, steady water while it establishes, and enough room to become the big evergreen it wants to be.
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What Is Green Giant Arborvitae?
Green Giant Arborvitae is a hybrid evergreen tree created from Thuja plicata and Thuja standishii. In the landscape, it grows into a tall, dense, pyramidal evergreen with rich green foliage and a strong upright habit.
It is commonly planted as a fast-growing privacy tree because it can grow several feet per year once established. Its dense branching makes it excellent for screening, while its naturally attractive shape means it does not need constant pruning to look good.
Green Giant differs from smaller arborvitae varieties because it grows much larger and faster. This is not a small foundation shrub. It is a true privacy tree for homeowners with enough space who want a tall evergreen screen.
Why Green Giant Arborvitae Is One of the Best Privacy Trees
Green Giant Arborvitae has become one of the most popular privacy trees because it combines fast growth, large size, and year-round coverage. A wood fence gives you privacy right away, but Green Giant gives you privacy that grows, softens, and improves the landscape over time.
This evergreen is especially useful when you need to:
- Block views from neighboring homes
- Create a living fence along a property line
- Screen roads, driveways, or utility areas
- Add a windbreak in open areas
- Create a tall evergreen backdrop behind flowering shrubs
- Add year-round structure to large landscapes
- Replace or soften a hard fence line
A row of Green Giant Arborvitae can make a yard feel more private without feeling boxed in. It brings height, color, movement, and softness to the landscape in a way a fence never can.
Green Giant Arborvitae Quick Facts
- Botanical Name: Thuja plicata x standishii 'Green Giant'
- Common Names: Green Giant Arborvitae, Thuja Green Giant, Green Giant Thuja
- Plant Type: Fast-growing evergreen tree
- Best Uses: Privacy screen, evergreen hedge, windbreak, living fence, property border
- Hardiness Zones: Commonly grown in Zones 5–8 or 5–9, depending on regional conditions
- Mature Height: Often 40–60 feet tall
- Mature Width: Often 12–18 feet wide
- Growth Rate: Fast; commonly 3 feet or more per year once established in good conditions
- Sunlight: Full sun to part sun
- Soil: Moist, fertile, well-drained soil
- Water Needs: Consistent watering during establishment; moderate drought tolerance once established
- Foliage: Dense, soft, scale-like evergreen foliage
- Deer Resistance: Better than many arborvitae, but not deer-proof
- Maintenance Level: Low once established
How Fast Does Green Giant Arborvitae Grow?
Green Giant Arborvitae is one of the fastest-growing evergreen privacy trees available. In good growing conditions, Thuja Green Giant can grow 3 feet or more per year once it is established.
That growth rate is one of the biggest reasons homeowners choose Green Giant for privacy screens. If you need a tall living fence and do not want to wait decades, this tree can fill in much faster than many other evergreen options.
Just remember that newly planted trees often spend their first season building roots. You may not see explosive top growth right away, and that is normal. A tree with a strong root system will reward you later with better growth, better color, and better drought tolerance.
For the fastest, healthiest growth, plant Green Giant Arborvitae in full sun to part sun, water deeply during the first growing seasons, mulch properly, and avoid crowding the trees too closely.
How Big Does Green Giant Arborvitae Get?
Green Giant Arborvitae is a large evergreen tree. At maturity, it commonly reaches 40–60 feet tall and 12–18 feet wide. In some landscapes, especially where conditions are ideal and the trees are left unpruned, they can become very substantial plants.
That mature size is exactly why Green Giant works so well for privacy. It has enough height to screen second-story views, soften tall fences, and create a strong evergreen structure along large property lines.
But the size also means planning matters. Do not plant Green Giant Arborvitae too close to the house, under power lines, directly against fences, or in narrow beds where it cannot grow naturally. A small tree may look harmless when it arrives, but Green Giant is not meant to stay small.
Best Green Giant Arborvitae Spacing for Privacy Screens
For a dense Green Giant Arborvitae privacy screen, plant trees about 5–6 feet apart on center. This spacing allows the trees to grow together into a full evergreen hedge while still giving each plant room to develop.
If you want a looser, more natural privacy screen or windbreak, space Green Giants about 8–12 feet apart on center. This gives each tree more breathing room and allows the natural pyramidal shape to show.
For very large properties, staggered rows can create a thicker windbreak and a more natural-looking screen. Instead of planting one tight straight line, use two offset rows where space allows.
Woodie's advice: Do not let impatience trick you into planting too close. Tight spacing may look better for the first few years, but overcrowded evergreens can struggle with air movement, light, root competition, and interior browning over time.
Where to Plant Green Giant Arborvitae
Green Giant Arborvitae grows best in full sun to part sun. More sunlight usually means fuller branching, stronger growth, and a denser privacy screen. It can handle some light shade, but too much shade can make the growth thinner and less uniform.
Choose a site with well-drained soil. Green Giant is adaptable, but it does not like sitting in wet, soggy ground. Poor drainage can lead to root stress, browning, and decline.
Good planting locations include:
- Backyard property lines
- Driveway borders
- Large side yards
- Open lawn edges
- Windbreak areas
- Behind mixed shrub borders
- Along fences that need softening
- Large privacy plantings between homes
Avoid planting Green Giant Arborvitae under utility lines, too close to sidewalks, directly beside foundations, or in small foundation beds. This tree needs room to grow into its mature size.
How to Plant Green Giant Arborvitae
The best Green Giant Arborvitae care starts on planting day. A properly planted tree establishes faster, handles stress better, and grows into a stronger privacy screen.
- Water the tree thoroughly before planting.
- Dig a hole about twice as wide as the root ball and only as deep as the root ball itself.
- Set the tree so the top of the root ball sits level with, or slightly above, the surrounding soil.
- Backfill with the soil you removed and water deeply to settle the soil around the roots.
- Add a 2–3 inch layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it pulled back from the trunk. Mulch should look like a wide, shallow ring around the tree — not a mound stacked against the bark.
Watering Green Giant Arborvitae After Planting
Watering is one of the most important parts of Green Giant Arborvitae care. Newly planted Green Giants need consistent moisture while their roots grow into the surrounding soil.
For the first growing season, water deeply once or twice per week, depending on weather, soil type, and rainfall. During hot, dry, or windy weather, your trees may need additional water.
A deep soak is better than a quick surface sprinkle. The goal is to water the root zone, not just wet the mulch. Check the soil a few inches below the surface. If it feels dry, water deeply. If it feels soggy, wait and allow the soil to drain.
Once established, Green Giant Arborvitae is more drought-tolerant, but even mature trees benefit from water during extended dry spells. A privacy row is a group of trees competing for moisture, so do not forget them during summer drought.
Fertilizing Green Giant Arborvitae
Green Giant Arborvitae does not need heavy fertilizer to grow well. In most landscapes, proper planting, good soil, mulch, and steady watering will do more for the tree than overfeeding.
If growth seems slow or the soil is poor, fertilize in early spring with a slow-release fertilizer formulated for trees, shrubs, or evergreens. Avoid fertilizing late in the season because it can encourage tender new growth before winter.
When planting new Green Giant Arborvitae, a root-focused planting fertilizer such as Woodie's Root Booster can help support establishment. Strong roots are the foundation of fast, healthy top growth.
How to Prune Green Giant Arborvitae
Green Giant Arborvitae has a naturally attractive pyramidal form, so it does not require heavy pruning. Most homeowners only need to remove broken, dead, damaged, or crossing branches.
If you want a more formal Green Giant Arborvitae hedge, light pruning can help maintain a tighter shape. The best time to prune is usually late winter to early spring before new growth begins, or lightly in early summer after the spring growth flush.
Avoid cutting into old, bare wood. Arborvitae do not reliably regrow from old brown interior stems. Light, regular shaping is much safer than hard pruning after the tree has become too large.
If you are using Green Giant as a privacy screen, let the trees grow naturally until they reach the height and width you want. Then lightly shape the outer green growth as needed.
Is Green Giant Arborvitae Deer Resistant?
Green Giant Arborvitae is considered more deer resistant than many arborvitae varieties, especially compared to some types of eastern arborvitae that deer commonly browse. That makes Green Giant a better choice in many deer-prone landscapes.
However, deer-resistant does not mean deer-proof. Hungry deer may still browse young Green Giants, especially during winter, drought, or periods of limited food.
If deer pressure is high in your neighborhood, protect young trees during the first few seasons. Deer repellents, temporary fencing, or protective netting can help while the trees are getting established. Once Green Giants are larger, they are usually better able to tolerate occasional browsing.
Why Is My Green Giant Arborvitae Turning Brown?
Browning Green Giant Arborvitae foliage is usually a sign of stress. The most common causes are watering problems, poor drainage, planting too deeply, winter burn, transplant shock, salt exposure, or pest pressure.
If your Green Giant Arborvitae is turning brown, start by checking the soil. Dry soil may mean the tree needs deeper watering. Constantly wet soil means the roots may be struggling from poor drainage.
Also check the planting depth. If the tree is planted too deeply or mulch is piled against the trunk, the root system and bark can be damaged.
Pests such as bagworms or scale can occasionally affect arborvitae. Look closely at the foliage and stems if browning appears in patches or spreads unevenly.
The good news is that many browning problems can be corrected early if you catch the stress quickly and adjust watering, drainage, mulch, or pest management.
Green Giant Arborvitae vs. Emerald Green Arborvitae
Green Giant Arborvitae and Emerald Green Arborvitae are both popular evergreen privacy plants, but they are used differently.
Green Giant Arborvitae is faster-growing, taller, wider, and better for large privacy screens. It is the better choice when you need height, speed, and a strong living fence along a property line.
Emerald Green Arborvitae is smaller, narrower, and slower-growing. It is better for tight spaces, smaller yards, formal hedges, foundation plantings, and areas where Green Giant would become too large.
Choose Green Giant Arborvitae if you have room and want fast privacy. Choose Emerald Green Arborvitae if you need a compact evergreen for a smaller space.
Green Giant Arborvitae vs. Leyland Cypress
Green Giant Arborvitae and Leyland Cypress are both used for fast-growing evergreen privacy screens, but Green Giant is often the better long-term choice for many homeowners.
Leyland Cypress grows quickly, but it can be more prone to disease and stress issues in some regions, especially when planted too tightly or in poor conditions. Green Giant Arborvitae is often chosen as a more dependable alternative because of its strong growth, good disease resistance, and naturally dense habit.
If you want a fast privacy screen with a cleaner, more refined evergreen look, Thuja Green Giant is often one of the best choices.
Best Landscape Uses for Green Giant Arborvitae
Green Giant Arborvitae is most valuable where you need tall evergreen coverage. It works well in large residential landscapes, open backyards, long side yards, and property borders.
Use Green Giant Arborvitae for:
- Fast-growing privacy screens
- Evergreen hedges
- Living fences
- Windbreaks
- Roadside screening
- Large property borders
- Backyard privacy planting
- Screening pool equipment or utility areas
- Evergreen backdrops for flowering shrubs
- Large-scale foundation or perimeter structure
Green Giant also pairs beautifully with flowering shrubs and perennials. Its dark green foliage makes hydrangeas, roses, ornamental grasses, coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, and other colorful plants stand out.
What to Plant With Green Giant Arborvitae
A row of Green Giant Arborvitae gives you privacy, but companion plants can make the planting look more finished. Instead of leaving the screen as a plain wall of green, add layers in front.
Good companion plants include hydrangeas for summer flowers, spirea for compact color and texture, ornamental grasses for movement, boxwoods for formal evergreen structure, coneflowers for pollinators, black-eyed Susans for summer color, catmint or salvia for deer-resistant flowers, hostas or ferns in shadier edges, and groundcovers to soften the front of the bed.
Layering plants in front of Green Giant Arborvitae makes the privacy screen feel like part of a designed landscape rather than just a boundary planting.
When Is the Best Time to Plant Green Giant Arborvitae?
Spring and fall are usually the best times to plant Green Giant Arborvitae. These seasons offer cooler temperatures and more forgiving conditions while the roots establish.
Spring planting gives the tree a full growing season before winter. Fall planting can also be excellent because the soil is still warm, the air is cooler, and the tree can focus on root growth.
Summer planting is possible with container-grown Green Giants, but watering becomes much more important. Avoid planting during extreme heat, drought, frozen ground, or any time you cannot water consistently.
Green Giant Arborvitae Care by Season
Spring
Spring is a good time to plant Green Giant Arborvitae, fertilize established trees if needed, refresh mulch, and inspect for winter damage. Remove broken branches and check that mulch is not touching the trunk.
Summer
Summer care is mostly about watering. Newly planted Green Giants need deep watering during hot, dry weather. Watch for browning, drought stress, and bagworms.
Fall
Fall is another excellent planting season. Water deeply before winter, especially if rainfall has been low. A healthy, hydrated evergreen is better prepared for winter weather.
Winter
In winter, avoid heavy pruning and watch for deer browsing. In exposed areas, young trees may benefit from protection during their first few winters.
Common Green Giant Arborvitae Mistakes to Avoid
The most common mistake is planting Green Giant Arborvitae too close together. Tight spacing may seem like the fastest way to get privacy, but overcrowding can lead to stress later.
Another mistake is planting too close to the house, sidewalk, fence, or driveway. Remember that Green Giant becomes a large tree, not a small shrub.
Avoid shallow watering after planting. A quick spray from the hose is not enough. Newly planted arborvitae need deep watering to help the roots establish.
Do not pile mulch against the trunk. Mulch volcanoes can damage bark and create moisture problems.
Finally, do not wait until a Green Giant Arborvitae is oversized before pruning. Light shaping is fine, but hard pruning into bare wood can leave permanent gaps.
A Few Words From Woodie
Green Giant Arborvitae is one of those plants that earns its place in the yard. It grows fast, stays green, and gives people what they really want: privacy.
But the best privacy screens are planted with patience. I know that sounds funny when we are talking about a fast-growing tree, but it is true. Give Green Giant enough room. Water it well while it is young. Let the roots settle in. Do not crowd it just because you want the screen to fill in tomorrow.
When you plant Thuja Green Giant the right way, you are not just blocking a view. You are creating a greener, quieter, more comfortable space to live in. That is what good landscaping should do.
Final Thoughts
Green Giant Arborvitae is one of the best fast-growing evergreen trees for privacy screens, windbreaks, and living fences. It grows quickly, stays green year-round, handles a wide range of landscape uses, and offers better deer resistance than many arborvitae options.
For the best results, plant Green Giant Arborvitae in full sun to part sun, give it well-drained soil, space trees 5–6 feet apart for a dense privacy screen, and water deeply while they establish.
With the right start, Thuja Green Giant can grow into a tall, thick, beautiful evergreen privacy screen that makes your yard feel more private, more peaceful, and more complete.