I live in LA county, San Gabriel valley. Since my house in on elevation and facing a road.. I would like to put some privacy trees along the backyard property line. On some research, I found that "Thuja Green Giant" trees are good for privacy as well as they grow very fast ( 3 - 5 ft in one year).. However, except on internet, so far I have not found them in any of the nurseries I visited around my place. Then today I found that this tree is good for a USDA zone 5 - 7 but LA has USDA zone - 10 -11. So now my question - (1) Does any one of you know where can I see this tree in a nursery in LA county, if you or some one you know live in LA. (2) Based on your experience & Knowledge, do you think this tree will grow fast in LA county ? Your response will be appreciated.

i did the same in Adrian MI in 2000 ... 4 inchers after the peat pot was sunk ... NO PROTECTION IS NECESSARY .... if there is enough snow cover.. that will make them very happy in a zone 6 or 7 ... the only thing i might recommend is some tall sticks/flags/markers.. so no one trods on them ... ANYTHING you do is contrary to ma nature ... i advise against such ... otherwise.. sounds like you are doing everything right ... ken

I'm the OP. Just an update (if anyone is reading & well I feel guilty killing anything alive so justifying it to myself out loud). After much reflection I have decided to remove 2x of these. One is a double trunked one & had deer rubbing on trunks. The other one is just pathetic looking. Truth be told when we bought these.. the nursery made a delivery mistake & in rectifying it by sent a double order. Of course we were sort of thrilled, since we actually had only purchased 5 originally. But now as time goes on, I really don't like the monoculture look & I'm afraid that's what we have. Although for the privacy these can't be beat. I'm adding in a duraheat river birch & a red cedar to replace the 2x being pulled. I will also add in time maybe holly or something else so it's not all thuja greens. I would rather do this now, while the trees are weak & small enough. Can't imagine trying to rip out 20 footers! I also will be deer fencing this spring (&/or coming fall) since I realize it's all a lost cause if I don't (including any new plantings) Well...just to say thanks to all who responded.

Can someone tell me: 4) If it is really necessary to mulch on top? HOW ARE YOU GOING TO PROPERLY WATER THEM.. OVER A 400 PLANTING .. ERGO .. YOU NEED MULCH TO MAKE WATER LESS PROBLEMATIC ... OR AN IRRIGATION LINE 5) Do they take care of themselves as far as water and nutrients? Or is it going to be constant tending. NO NEWLY PLANTED PLANT.. CAN TAKE CARE OF WATER BY ITSELF ... DURING THE FIRST YEAR ... ESPECIALLY SINCE YOU PROBABLY ALREADY MISSED PRIME PLANTING TIME.. IN YOUR ZONE ... SEE LINK BELOW ... AS TO FERT.. THEY WILL NEVER NEED ANY FERT.. THEY ARE TREES.. NOT CHILDREN.. THEY WONT GET HUNGRY ... AND I PLANTED IN SAND ... 6) What spacing is good. The website says 5' to 6' apart for a tight screen. I see others saying 4' apart. What do you think? SPACING IS TUNED TO YOUR GOAL ... AND HOW LONG YOU DONT MIND WAITING FOR THAT GOAL TO BE ACHIEVED ... IF YOU WANT TO HIDE THE NEIGHBORS YESTERDAY.. YOU BUY LARGE PLANTS.. AND PLANT THEM CLOSE TOGETHER... IF YOU HAVE MORE TIME THAN MONEY.. YOU PLANT THEM FURTHER APART ... AND LET THEM GROW UP ... ===>>>> enough of those caps ... i THINK you are a novice ... so the following things cross my mind ... forgive me if i presume wrong : i think your nuts going for 100 all at once ... over the hundred years these might live .. there is no need to plant them all at once ... whenever you plant in multiples.. expect some loss ... its just the odds ... never plant in a straight line ... the common shovel is 6 feet long.. use it to measure [measure yours first, and act accordingly] ... and weave in and out over the 400 hundred feet ... if you want less than 6 feet ... just put some tape on your shovel at the mark you want ... see link.. all trees should be bare rooted and planted in native soil ... the only thing pots will give you now.. is flexibility in planting time ...you can hold them in pots longer.. if life gets in the way ... small plants can be planted with the dibble method ... and you can use a common shovel to do it.. no need for the actual dibble .... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhqa3yeLxhk as noted.. timing of planting is imperative ... and your probably past that date in your area ... its all about when the heat of summer is going to hit.. and whether the plants can get settled in and pumping water.. before such ... if i were you.. to start the learning curve.. i might order 20 or so.. and then more for the next proper planting season.. probably fall.. after the heat of summer ends ... it will be more visually interesting.. over the years.. if they vary in size ... who really wants a 400 foot green curtain ... so plant every third or forth one ... and then in the next session ... plant every second ... etc ... any that die from this planting.. can be filled in with the next phase ... coffee buzz... maybe i will come up with more.. later.. lol .. lots to think about ... [its so bad.. i cant find my coffee cup for more.. lol .. maybe thats a good thing ...] when dealing with trees.. try to think in tree time.. and that is years and decades ... not i want this done yesterday .... ken https://sites.google.com/site/tnarboretum/Home/planting-a-tree-or-shrub