I have 9 Thuja GGs planted along the north side a Privacy fence, which is only 5 feet just north of a Brick, two story house. They receive mid day and full afternoon until sunset direct sun. In the winter mine stay green and do not show any bronze color change of the leaves My native soil is a dark, slightly acidic Clay. These trees benefit from the entire length of the fence area being slightly sloped upward and The soil along most of the fence has some builder's sand that had not been cleaned up by the workers who built the neighbor's house. This area is in the north east corner of my lot. My trees started out as one gallon pot sized trees, which were 12-15 inches tall and very nicely shaped and filled out when I planted them. These trees have been very happy, have grown to a height of 9 feet tall in Summer of 07. I watered them often especially in drought times, but did not begin feeding them Osmokote until the Spring of 07, which was early in the 3rd year since I planted them. When I was not feeding them the previous years, they sent up very narrow shoots of new growth each spring and fall. This new growth never seemed to fill out very nicely and by the time they reached 5 feet tall, they began to look pretty unbalanced. Once I started giving them the Osmokote, though, they began growing faster and all the very thin top half of the tree began to fill out more quickly. This made the trees appear much more balanced and more like one would expect the trees to be. Since my trees were watered, but not fed for the first two years they only grew about one additional foot the first year, and two feet the second year after I first planted them. When I began giving them the Osmokote, they not only grew more filled in tops; they also, grew an additional 5 feet in one year. I have a friend whose trees are planted in clay with out the benefit of added builder's sand, and they are planted on the South side of a privacy fence, which slopes from west to east at a fairly significant grade. At least half of her trees have needed to be replaced due to them sufficating along the lower part of slope, where the clay soil remainded wet for extended periods of time. They were never in standing water. The problem happened because runoff water kept the soil too moist for too long of times. The replacement trees she planted lived, and it appears they lived under the same conditions due to them being 5 gallon potted sized trees which were already 6 feet tall, when she planted them, and so we figured large of a tree needs more moisture than the original 12-15 inch tall ones, which died for her, needed.

Drip watering systems seem to work well with that many Thuja 'Green Giants.' That is, if you monitor the drip system enough to ensure the trees receive enough consistant water, but also that the soil at no times becomes soggy. When I first plant my trees, they let me know if they are not getting enough water by first turning tan. If I begin to to keep them better watered at that stage, they are much easier to correct. Do not let any big dogs urinate on your trees. If that happens, it does not take long for the branches to turn the color you described. In the winter, if the trees receive a south and southwest exposure, of drying sun and winds, they may turn a brownish burgundy color, and not green back up until they begin growing better in the following Spring. These trees are also hit hard when they are planted in slow draining soil, like clay, and there has not been anything done for them to drain off the excessive water in the soil. When this happens I have seen the leaves turn goldish brownish at the start, but then turn completely brown. The cause of this problem, often occurs when their fairly fine textured roots have become unhealty due to too much water in the soil suffocating them. If left in that state, long enough they will die, or if a sudden day or two of dry soil event follows their previously begun suffocating roots condition; they will not be able to compensate, and these trees usually die. Especially before these trees establish and when they are only 6 feet tall or less, if rain runoff which collects and puddles a little over their rootballs occurs, that will signifcantly stress them at first exposure, and even kill the trees in a very short time if the situation reoccurs several times within a period of few months.

based on those pix.. it looks like normal winter coloration .... is this the first you have looked at them since fall??? once they get going this spring.. they will green properly ... there conifers will never need fertilizer.. or anything else... ever... unless a soil test shows something is lacking.. and based on the growth you got last summer.. after transplant.. i would suggest nothing is lacking from your soil ... they are weeds.. let them do their thing.. with the only caveat.. on a recent transplant.. is to insure some supplemental water in july/aug/sept.. IF THERE IS A DROUGHT ... if ma nature takes care of it.. all the better... good luck ken

This is a great thread. I am new to this, but finally got my back patio looking great after living in my house for 14 years. I decide to enjoy my new fire pit and realized THIS is my current view. It's probably pretty obvious why I planted these trees, not to mention the loud kids running around in the back yard all day. But after reading a LOT more about these monster trees, I feel like I may have overshot the runway? I planted these 6' off the property line (and 6' apart, not to their trunk center but the edge of the hole...oops) but am still afraid they may grow over the neighbor's yard. There is no fence or other obstruction between our yards (well, except for the, you know.....Dodge Durango!?!) so I am a little concerned about the intrusion in to the neighbor's property. We aren't the best of friends either, so there's that. The trees are about 18" now so won't be an issue for a while, but they are still young enough I could replant if necessary. I included two pictures to show the property line and how much of my yard space I'm giving up (which I am HAPPY to do to eliminate that horrible eye sore!) Any advice on if I allowed enough room for these things?