I need a fast growing, evergreen hedge for privacy from my crazy neighbor! I want the fastest growing tree alive and I want it yesterday! The 6 foot cedar fence is just not doing it. I have done some research and have come to the conclusion that Thuja Green Giants are what I need. I don't know much about cedar hedges. These are the species I have found. Which one is the Green Giant? Thuja koraiensis - Korean Thuja Thuja occidentalis - Eastern Arborvitae, Northern Whitecedar Thuja plicata - Western Redcedar Thuja standishii - Japanese Thuja Thuja sutchuenensis - Sichuan Thuja I live in Langley, BC and am wondering if anyone knows a nursery that I can buy these trees from locally? How far away from the cedar panel fence should I plant? And I have read they should be spaced 5-6 ft apart, is this correct? Big Thanks :)
Plant T. plicata instead. Only advantage of 'Green Giant' would be if it happens to be resistant to Keithia blight.
Keep in mind that fast growing usually equals very large in the long run, I dont consider Thuja plicata cultivars appropriate for most residential properties, unless you have acreage. It will turn into a maintenance nightmare at some point. I have seen the Thuja p. Green Giant at a nursery in Langley, when I first saw them planted the claim to fame was rapid growth and deep green color in season, no remarks about Kethia resistance that I heard. If you can, look for well grown 7 to 8 foot (or taller depending on budget) Smaragd cedars as a hedge vs the 6 foot fence. They can be maintained at 10 to 15 feet in height with a lateral spread of 4 feet or so. Vertical growth with ample water and proper fertilizer will be in the range of 12 to 16 inches a year.
I have to keep the fence up as there are dogs on both sides. I know a chain link would be better for the trees but it is what it is, a cedar plank fence. How far away from the fence should I plant the trees? Thanks for the info :)
For info, 'Green Giant' is a hybrid between Thuja plicata and Thuja standishii. Its main advantage is climatic adaptability in areas with hot, humid summers like the eastern USA, where the faster-growing Thuja plicata doesn't thrive. It doesn't have any benefits in BC.
Mine were about 2 feet from a cedar fence...till they pushed it over after about 10 years. With rigorous pruning & scalping (done by me since it cost too much to get the pros to do it) I managed to get my Leylandii hedge to last 28 years. As I have whined on these forums before I have recently spent a lot of money & a lot of time getting rid of the hedge before it engulfed the whole yard......plan on a much shorter life than I tried to achieve for your peace-of-mind & pocket book. Personally, the name "Green Giant" would make me wonder if my property were big enough for the both of us! I would prefer to see it on a can of peas. Sorry for the negative vote. Smaragds are better, Yews are best IMO. I appreciate your wish, but instant screening is very hard to do. Patience & cost are inversely related in many aspects of gardening. Lysichiton
