Phillip, since you just recently moved into the house, the reasons for the trees conditions could be hidden from you. I mean concerning the previous owners' process of maintaining the pool water's proper salt content. For a friend, I helped plant about 14 GGs along her fence line that ran slightly down hill along the north side of her husband's lap pool which is only 4 feet deep and kept filled with salt solution treated water. When we planted the trees I had no idea that at times he had to flush the pool and refill. I guess that effort must have been used to keep the salt levels from becoming too concentrated. While these GGS were attempting to get established we had a very difficut time keeping them alive, because the lower elevated ones' roots seemed to suffocate, while the higher elevated ones roots seemed dry out too quickly. After a week of this, it turned out that it was the salt water that her husband was flushing out of his pool that was giving the trees the most trouble. Once he realized this fact, he redirected where he drained that salty water. After that the GGS were able to establish and pulled through, only growing more slowly than normally would be expected. Some died had to be replanted. It has been almost 4 years ago when we first planted those GGs. when we first planted those GGs they were all about 2 feet tall, but now are only about 8 feet tall with more full lower levels of branch lengths like seen in some of Ken's trees. The reason I discribed that was because even though her husband stopped flushing out the water and letting it flow down the slope toward the lower trees, and the trees began to do much better, they still have struggled more and grown more slowly. There also are still two of her trees which are planted next to each other, that are almost 4 feet shorter than the rest of the GGS. My friend told me those two trees were being affected from where her husband had redirected the water he flushes from the pool. I have not seen her husband do this and do not know how much of the salty water could be affecting these two tree's roots, but clearly they would not be growing so slower than the rest, if they did not have to struggle with the gradually elevating build up of salt levels in the soil. You should also pay more attention to what affect that your neighbors rain run-off has on your trees, as that water rushes through your fence and flash floods your trees.

Sorry was out of town. Give the arbs some room. All the information is there if you look. The closer you plant the arbs the sooner they will make a hedge but they will continue to grow in diameter since that's their genetic make up. Take a look at photos on Google. You'll see plenty of photos of Techny 8' in diameter. You gotta do what you gotta do. Plus you can prune arborvitae and it regenerates it's "evergreen" foliage from stems without wood with sufficient light. If it were I doing this, I'd space them 10' away from the mature spruce and space them 5' to 6' apart. Just my take and my acceptance to wait for them to make a hedge. +oM, have seen a lot of posters on here in zone 4 with complete rows of dead GG's. Good/great soil certainly will help significantly as will size of root mass at planting time. I imagine you have some pretty good soil up there in Wisconsin on that land? Plus you're a god damn pro at this stuff! ;-) Dax

Good decision to post on the conifer forum! I do not know about the zone, but these 'Green Giants' will become giants literally. They look nice when bought small, but in 20 years they might be 40 ft tall and 15 ft diameter, so watch out where you plant them. When you plant them too close to the property line, they will encroach on neighbor's property. When you plant them too close to your own house or path they will take those over, and you will not be able to prune them at those heights.

You are not likely to be successful with any tree grown in a container long term in CT......without some sort of winter protection available. Even quite large containers can freeze solid in a cold winter and the roots are the most vulnerable portion of the plant with respect to cold damage. And because of their exposure, containerized plants are subject to much colder temps than the same plant in the ground. btw, growing trees long term in a container requires quite a lot more time and attention than one might imagine. Watering needs accelerate, you have to fertilize regularly and the potting soil will need to be refreshed periodically as will the need to root prune. That can be a lot of work for more than just a couple of trees and the larger they are, the harder it becomes. btw, trees in containers do have a limited growth......both mature size and rate of growth will be substantially reduced compared to the same tree in the ground. Very similar to bonsai but on a larger scale. A Green Giant grown in a container will never reach 50'.........more than 15-20' would be impressive. Bamboo could be a reasonable solution if you use a clumping bamboo and plant in the ground. Relatively fast growth, evergreen, significant height and if a clumper, no danger from unwanted/uncontrolled spread and no need for containment. Check out the Fargesia species. Also very cold tolerant.