Junior Giant Thuja Tree

Junior Giant Thuja is hardy in USDA zones 6-9 and grows best in full to part sun. It is adaptable to most soils but prefers ground that drains well and stays consistently moist; avoid spots where water pools after rain.

Planting

1. Choose a site with full to part sun. More sun produces the densest, fullest growth.
2. Make sure the soil drains well. If your ground is heavy clay, work in compost or plant on a slight mound to improve drainage.
3. Dig the hole twice as wide as the root ball but no deeper than the root ball is tall.
4. Set the plant so the root flare (where the trunk widens at the base) sits right at ground level. Never bury the flare or the lower trunk.
5. Backfill with native soil, firm gently to remove air pockets, and water in deeply to settle the roots.
6. For a privacy hedge, space plants about 5-6 feet apart on center for a faster, fuller screen, or 7-8 feet apart if you want each tree to show more of its natural pyramidal form. Apply 2-3 inches of mulch over the root zone, keeping it pulled back a few inches from the trunk.

Care & maintenance

• Water. Water deeply and regularly through the first one to two growing seasons while roots establish. Evergreens also lose moisture through their foliage in winter, so water during dry, mild spells in fall and winter to prevent browning from desiccation.
• Feed. Apply a light, slow-release evergreen or conifer fertilizer in early spring. Established plants need very little supplemental feeding.
• Light. Full to part sun. The denser the light, the denser the foliage and the better the screen.
• Prune & shear. As an arborvitae, Junior Giant tolerates shearing well and can be trimmed into a formal hedge. Shear in late spring to early summer to shape and encourage density. Like other arborvitae, it is slow to regenerate from old bare wood, so trim within the green, leafy growth rather than cutting deep into leafless interior branches.
• Spacing. For a continuous privacy hedge, plant 5-6 feet apart on center; allow 7-8 feet for a more open, natural row.
• Pests & disease. The most common issue on arborvitae is bagworms, whose spindle-shaped cocoons can defoliate branches; pick them off by hand or treat early in the season. Otherwise this is a trouble-free plant in well-drained soil.
• Winter care. In heavy-snow regions, gently brush snow off the branches or loosely tie the plant before winter to prevent the upright form from splaying open under snow load.

How far apart should I plant them for a privacy hedge?

Space Junior Giant Thuja about 5-6 feet apart, measured trunk to trunk, for a dense privacy screen that fills in quickly. If you prefer a more open look where each tree keeps its pyramidal shape, plant 7-8 feet apart. The closer spacing gives you a solid wall of green sooner.

How fast does it grow and how soon will it fill in?

This is a fast-growing arborvitae, and with good sun, water, and decent soil it can add a couple of feet of height a year while young. Planted at recommended spacing, a row typically reads as a continuous screen within a few seasons.

How tall and wide will it get?

Junior Giant matures at roughly 15-20 feet tall and 12-15 feet wide. It is meaningfully smaller than full-size 'Green Giant' arborvitae, which is what makes it such a good fit for ordinary residential yards where a 40-foot conifer would be too much.

Is it evergreen and green all year?

Yes. Junior Giant holds its dense green foliage through all four seasons, so it screens and provides structure year-round, including through winter.

Is it deer resistant?

No. Like other arborvitae, Junior Giant is a favorite of deer and is often browsed, especially in winter when other food is scarce. In areas with heavy deer pressure, plan to protect young plants with fencing or repellents, or consider a more deer-resistant evergreen for unprotected sites.

Why is my Thuja turning brown?

A few causes are common. Some inner-needle browning and shedding in fall is normal as the plant sheds older foliage. Browning at the tips or on the windward side usually points to drought stress or winter desiccation, so check that the plant is getting deep water, including during dry winter spells. Browning patches with small cocoons hanging from the branches indicate bagworms, which should be removed promptly.