You shouldn't need to do anything with these, they will be fully hardy in Lake or Cook counties. But you could certainly put up a burlap screen around them to cut the wind. I don't think a garage environment would be very good for evergreens. Works at times for deciduous plants because they have no leaves.

I'm not in the camp that says "wait until fall to plant". As long as you can keep them adequately watered, I believe that they could be planted right now, and then would be quite well rooted in when winter hits, alleviating all concerns about that issue. If it were me and I wanted them, it was a good price, etc., I'd probably have them in the ground by noon today!

FWIW, if you have a Meijer store near you, you might want check and see what they have on sale/clearance at their garden centers. I was at a Meijer here in Michigan, and they had some various Thuja in roughly a 3 gallon size about 3 1/2 -4 feet tall, would have been $12 each, but I didn't look at the tags to see the varieties.

i would NOT plant in july/august ...

just because they are available.. and you buy them.. does not mean it time to do it..

put them where the pot is in shade.. but not the tree.. and keep them watered ...

plant in mid to late sept ...

they do not need winter protection ... except to mark so kids dont mow them down with snow cover..

an the real trick .. do not put away the hose on 10/1 ... INSURE.. deep water thru at least thxgvng .... they might not need any water after 10/1 ... with cool/cold nights ... but do check and water if the drought continues near ground freeze ...

otherwise.. you are over-thinking this completely bulletproof plant in z5 ...

ken

Jose, I've got some GGs completely free-range at a site 260 miles due north of your location. They're not tender plants at all from what I'm seeing.

What does seem to happen with mine is a greater winter time browning of the foliage as compared to native Thuja occidentalis right next to them. But come the following growing season, they're off and running like nothing happened. So yeah, do not go to any extraordinary lengths to "protect" these things. They belong in the ground. If they're potted or in balled and burlapped form, they are eminently plantable right now. That's why the nursery trade came up with those methods of handling plants-to extend the planting season window.

Now Ken is correct that planting this time of year-especially THIS year-brings with it certain challenges. But if you have a hose, you can meet that challenge easily. There is no magical protection offered to these plants by leaving them in their pots for another few months.

+oM

There is no magical protection offered to these plants by leaving them in their pots

==>> oh yes there is.. its called PROPER AFTERCARE ... and if you forget them.. out in the middle of a drought-stricken desert known as your yard ...for a few days.. they MIGHT toast up real fast ...

when i talk about holding plants.. i put them on the north side of the house.. which means right out the front door.. where i stand to smoke every hour on the hour.. AND I STILL FORGET TO WATER THEM .. lol

tom is absolutely correct.. if you will be there to check soil moisture every other day or so or 3 [whatever your soil demands] ... which means.. no vacations until fall ... or hiring someone to water them ... [and good luck on the neighborhood punk really caring about your babes .. lol]

tom.. would you agree.. you would NOT plan them in your forest ... 260 miles away in july/august.. and hope for the best ...???

i am sure we are both on the same page.. in that we are talking about PROPER AFTERCARE.. and ones ability to provide such ...

for me.. its just easier when they are all together in one spot.. rather than scattered all over 5 acres ... i will scatter them.. when night temps make watering issues nearly irrelevant ...

ken

I think Tom and Ken are on the same page and speaking different languages. :o)

Bottom line, they will require extra attention if you plant them now, but it is very do-able.

Yeah, you can't just forget about them. But neither can you if they're left in their pots, as Sir Ken readily admits!

BTW, 260 miles is the distance from Jose's location to where my plantation is.. My odometer tells me that my land is 57 miles from my driveway apron. But no matter, I'd still go ahead and get em in the ground. You use mulch, right? That's really the key to success anyway. Soil stays moist SO much longer when covered by a nice layer of woodchips or bark.

BTW, I see where the Duluth area is about to get hit by heavy storms again. I mention this only because I'm a weather geek and find it fascinating how once an area gets wet, it tends to stay wet. Likewise, where my land is, again, a mere 57 miles north of where I live, there's been roughly 4 times the precip. so far this summer, as compared to my home location.

+oM

Personally, I think in-ground stays moist roughly twice as long as containerized. I have no scientific basis to make this assertion, just personal observation of similar plants going into different circumstances.

If you have a plant in a pot in the summer, you might as well be married to it.
This is about one tenth the number of planted pots I have.
I have many wives!

That said, I would plant them in the ground as soon as you can and keep them hydrated for the rest of the summer. You would have to water them many more times if left in pots.
Mike
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Being how I'm retired I don't have a problem babying these trees and making sure they are watered. My main concern is making sure I care for them properly in the winter especialy the small 16inch ones I plan on getting. I like the idea though of putting up a burlap screen around them to cut the wind in the winter. I have to agree though with a couple of you guys that if you have a plant/tree in a pot you might as well be married to it cause I noticed that keeping them watered was an everyday chore. I don't know what they use for potting soil but it did not absorb water very well it just went right threw. I've noticed since I've planted them I haven't had to water quite as often. The ground does tend to stay moist roughly twice as long as containerized. Thanks everyone for your input on my question it is greatly appreciated.