Type
Well-Adapted
Sunlight Type
Full Sun
Soil Type
Adaptable
Attracts
Birds
Benefits
Evergreen, Great for Privacy/Screening, Tree, Hardy, Low Maintenance
Arborvitae 'Emerald Green'
The Perfect Privacy Screen for Tight Spaces
The 'Emerald Green' Arborvitae is the gold standard for creating privacy in smaller yards. Unlike wild cedars, this variety maintains a tight, narrow, pillar-like shape that rarely needs pruning. Its rich emerald-green foliage is soft to the touch and stays vibrant year-round, never turning the bronzy-brown color that older varieties often do in winter.
Why You Need It:
- Instant Privacy: Plant them 3-4 feet apart to create a dense, living wall.
- Low Maintenance: naturally grows in a neat column; no shearing required.
- Winter Interest: Provides crucial green structure in the snowy winter landscape.
Planting Tips:
Thrives in Full Sun. It appreciates regular watering, especially in the first few years and during dry autumns, to prevent winter burn.
Our Landscape Designer's Take
The Michiana Privacy Solution: In high-density subdivisions in Granger and Mishawaka, this is our #1 requested plant for instant privacy. Unlike fences, which can feel confining, a row of Emerald Green Arborvitae creates a "Living Wall" that softens noise and blocks the view of the neighbor’s patio.
How We Plant Them: The biggest mistake we see is planting them too close together. We space them exactly 3 feet apart (center to center). This prevents the "dead zones" caused by overcrowding and ensures airflow reduces fungal issues during our humid Michigan summers. They thrive in our clay-heavy soil as long as they get consistent water during their first year.