Are you looking for highly resistant plants that will thrive in any soil and weather conditions? Do you want a hedge or screen that magnificently blocks your compound with its height and thickness?
If these two questions have bothered you, you must learn the key features and differences between Green Giant Vs. Emerald Green Arborvitae.
The challenge comes in when deciding which of the two to consider. So, it’s crucial to differentiate the two. Let’s get the show on the road!
Differences Between Green Giant and Emerald Green Arborvitae
Whether you are looking for a hedge, a serene green screen, or fast-growing trees for your backyard decoration or to block out the neighbor’s view, these trees always pop up. So, how does it matter which tree you plant?
Basically, the two trees are in the same species, Thuja, otherwise called arborvitae. In some places, they are referred to as cedar trees.
Despite being in the same species and almost resembling each other, the two trees have wide differences.
From the outlook to the exact conditions for growth suitable for each, you will find the trees differing.
Let’s look into the two trees, head to head, to determine their differences and similarities.
- Tree Outlook
It is funny, but you might think it is the same tree if you look at the two trees differently. However, if you have them both head-on, you will realize that the outlook is totally different.
Emerald green has a lighter green that glows in the sunshine, so it has the name. It is also columnar, growing with the same thickness from the bottom to the top, saving for a slight cone shape.
On the contrary, Green Giant has a darker green shade, making it a perfect contrast for bright hedge flowers.
It has a cone shape from the bottom up, with the bottom as wide as 12 feet and the top as narrow as one foot or less.
- Height and Width
A major difference between the trees is the height and width that they are capable of attaining. While both trees are fast growers, their maximum height differs.
The height gets to a maximum of 12 feet with emerald green, while the width may not go beyond three to four feet.
However, the green Giant gets its name from this aspect.
It can grow as wide as twelve to fourteen feet, with a height of more than 30 feet.
Therefore, Green Giant is the most preferable for the large hedges for optimal coverage. But too bigger a size can be a problem of the Green Giant tree as well.
Besides, without trimming, you will need fewer trees to cover a large circumference.
If you have a small hedge for your compound, green giants might outgrow your backyard and may not be that attractive. In this case, a beautiful emerald green hedge is a fantastic solution.
- Climatic Conditions and Hardiness Zones
Typically, USDA has laid down 13 hardiness zones, which dictate the plants that can withstand different climatic conditions all over the US.
You can also use the zones to determine suitable plants for your location outside the US.
Zone 1 is the coldest, with temperatures under 53.9 degrees celsius. Hence, zone 13 becomes the warmest, with temperatures over 15.6 degrees celsius.
So, both thujas withstand cold climatic conditions. In fact, they proudly hold ice layers without breaking or running dry.
However, emerald green is the best option for the coldest winter, doing well up to zone 2 and maintaining a lustrous green despite the icy weather.
Green Giant can only stand up to conditions coldest in zone 6, managing optimal resilience.
However, giant Green will amaze you with resilience to the warm and hot climatic conditions, especially in the southern regions.
For that reason, if you are in very cold regions, say from zone two to six, consider green emerald, and you will be glad you did.
On the other hand, in zones from six downwards, giant green Thuja will bring you pride.
- Pest and Deer Resistance
If you are looking for impressively resistant plants to pests, these two are at the top. Mold and fungi that are always a concern with nursery workers keep a distance from the thuja trees.
While the deer can eat any shrub and leaf, it comes across, and the green Giant has proven resistant to the animal.
Therefore, in areas where deer invasion is a nuisance, green Giant is the best solution.
- Growth Rate
Some of us want a full-grown lawn or hedge as soon as we purchase a suitable home. Nevertheless, remember that a hedge is something that remains with you over a long period.
Therefore, you need to be patient to reap long-term benefits.
Consider the above aspects and if most are in your favor, consider the tree’s growth rate.
Essentially, the Green Giant grows really fast.
Within a year, you will have a substantial shrub for your hedge, enough to boast about.
However, emerald green has steady growth and will also be looking appealing and conspicuous within less than two years.
- Maintenance and Growing Conditions
This is where the two trees merge in strengths. They are both easy to maintain, and you don’t always have to be there to ensure that they don’t dry.
As we have mentioned before, they are both pest resistant, which aids in their fast growth. Actually, within a year, the two are capable of growing up to five feet additional height.
When it comes to watering, you have to ensure that they have sufficient water for growth, not daily, even for the young trees. They are not so demanding that you have to tense over losing them any minute.
If you decide on either of these trees for a screen, trimming is necessary. However, if you don’t have time for the art, emerald green is the best option, less leafy and less bushy.
You don’t need winter coating or cover with both trees as long as you grow it in the recommended hardiness zone.
With green Giant, you may have to trim constantly, especially if you want to maintain a low thick hedge.
Its growth rate outdoes emerald green both in height and thickness, hence demanding higher maintenance.
Which is Best for a Hedge; Emerald Green or Green Giant?
I would say that both emerald green and green Giant are great for a hedge. They provide sufficient privacy when grown within a suitable distance from each other.
For emerald green, two to three feet will offer you enough thickness. Green Giant guarantees exceptional thickness for privacy even with a distance of five to six feet from each other.
With a small backyard where you want a few scattered trees, emerald green is an excellent option. Despite trimming it less, it grows thinner, hence more attractive for a scattered scenery.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Whereas Emerald Green arborvitae is perfect for smaller landscapes, Green Giant is suitable for bigger landscapes as they can grow up to 20 to 40 feet high!
If you need a dense privacy edge, Emerald Green Arborvitae is your answer.
Well, they grow 1 to 2 feet per year until fully established. After that, they grow about 6 to 9 feet per year until they grow their maximum height like 10 to 15 feet.
No. So, it’s safe to plant them nearby the sidewalks, pools, and roads.
In a Nutshell
Green giant Vs. emerald green arborvitae? None of the two supersedes the other, but each has the strengths that make it most suitable.
So, based on the points above, you can finally make an informed decision on which one will bring out your vision of a hedge.
The best part? They both grow fast, are poor condition resistant, and undoubtedly appealing to the eye. After all, they are both Thujas!
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