Instant Gratification With Thuja Green Giants

By Scott Bailey


Well, maybe not instant gratification, but as close as you can get in the real world of botany. Thuja Green Giants are probably the fastest growing ornamental evergreen you can buy. A hybrid developed by crossing an American thuja with an Asian variety, this gorgeous tree tapers gracefully to a majestic height, achieves a uniform width, and grows up to five feet a year after getting established. It is also renowned for being maintenance free.

Planted a minimum of five or six feet apart, these giants grow so uniformly and so fast that they soon form an unbroken line of green. Their uniformity gives them a formal look which requires no shaping. As a privacy hedge they are unequaled, and A tall procession of thujas along an estate drive has to be seen to be appreciated.

Of course, you need to allow space for them. You can prune them to any height or width, but they are still a big tree. Left alone, they will grow to 30 feet and spread 25 feet wide. In a row where they are spaced 5 to 6 feet apart, they will attain a height of 20 feet and a width of about 8. Planting directions specify at least 4 feet from fence or property line and 15 feet from a septic system. The roots of an established tree spread a little farther than its branches.

The thuja is a member of the cypress family; the name arborvitae may be more familiar. These hybrids combine the hardiness of a tree native to the northern half of the west coast United States and the speedy growth of an Asian variety. They are not attractive to deer or bugs - even bagworms - so never require spraying. Soil type does not seem to matter, and they don't need fertilizer to grow rapidly. Hardy and heat tolerant, they do need regular watering in very dry areas. Trees started from cuttings share the same gracefully tapered shape, height, and width.

A dense row of these trouble-free evergreens provides privacy and protection from the wind. It also is an effective noise barrier. If you live in a high traffic area and want to grow vegetables, a hedge like this will shield your yard from up to 90 percent of heavy metals from air pollution.

One of the parent trees for this hybrid is native to the Northeast United States. Giants are hardy to -20 degrees Fahrenheit and are not prone to damage from wind or snowfall. Growers can recommend the best planting time in Georgia. It's important to follow these recommendations, in order to give your trees the best start. There is a lot of information about choosing trees, sizes available, prices, and shipping costs. You will also find culture tips and customer testimonials.

Trees are sold bare-root, with a burlap wrap around their pruned roots, or in containers. You will find six foot transplants in one gallon containers, but other nurseries might sell them in much larger tubs. Growers sometimes sell direct, which keeps the price down. Don't forget to factor in shipping costs when you compare prices, and look for free shipping offers.

Of course, you can save big if you find a local grower and can pick stock up. But it's true that you can have trees taller than you shipped to your door. In three or four years you can have a magnificent, green, living barrier to whatever you'd like to keep out.




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