Wow. I also have an arborvitae Techny that was seriously affected by this past winter. Mine was brown everywhere. But in the last two weeks or so it has grown many green areas so I am hopeful. In my case leaving it completely alone was key because the green grew from the brown areas. Further out on the branch. If I had trimmed the brown I think I would have trimmed all the potential new growth off. Is that last picture of yours a different one than the two inn the photo just above it? If so, it looks different than mine. Mine was uniformly brown a few weeks ago but the branches were very flexible. I've only ever trimmed my arborvitae slightly when there's one small group of needles that turned brown I would cut it off. I'm a very cautious pruner unless it's a butterfly bush, say.

Depending on how large they are, you can trim the dead growth off now...but real soon, arborvitae should not be pruned after Aug. 15 or so. If the branches are not broken, they should shape up, you can kind of fluff them up with your hands, just return them to their normal shape. Do not take off growth down to the bare branches though...they will not regrow from there, try to leave a good healthy amount of foliage. Of course prune them all over for shape at the same time, do not just prune off the bad stuff. Good Luck, Helen.

Last fall I admired all the arborvitae in Maine, they grow like weeds up there. I was told you couldn't kill them. Not true! As long as you have a lot of rain and they are in full sun they do ok in area 6 but I really don't think they are meant for our climate. I have almost 100 of them in my yard here so I have my problems too. I hope the bottom of your trees fill out.

the usual problem in z5 or colder .... for new transplants is the freeze drying effect of the prevailing winter winds ... do you live on the prairie... flat and basically no wind breaks for miles around... read that.. next to thousands of acres farm land .. or do you have a wind protected micro climate where they are planted??? and of course ... as cear notes ... the winter wind damage is extremely complicated by the plants not being properly watered deep into fall .. you dont just put the hose away in early october.. and hope for the best ... but all that said.. you dont just go out there watering until thxgvg ... you CHECK moisture at root depth.. and water accordingly ... with cool days.. and downright cold nights.. its rare they need water late in fall ... but you just make sure... and of course.. it all depends on your native soil.. and how it drains... freezing them into an ice cube in poorly planted clay holes is just as bad.. if not worse .. in my MI ... winter winds prevail from the NW.... and IF i decided some needed wind protection ... i would favor that side of the plants .... they dont need to be mummified ... in burlap .. just a wind break ... ken