{"product_id":"autumn-moon-arborvitae","title":"Autumn Moon Arborvitae","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA Golden Globe Arborvitae with a Coppery Fall Glow\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAutumn Moon Arborvitae (\u003cem\u003eThuja occidentalis\u003c\/em\u003e 'Autumn Moon') is a compact, rounded evergreen prized for its color show. Soft golden-yellow foliage warms to coppery-orange as fall arrives and holds through early winter. Staying a tidy 3-4 feet tall and wide, it is a low-maintenance pop of color for foundation beds and smaller Twin Cities yards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAutumn Moon Arborvitae Plant Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAttribute\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDetail\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eThuja occidentalis\u003c\/em\u003e 'Autumn Moon'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAutumn Moon Arborvitae\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3-4 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Width\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3-4 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSlow - 3-6 inches per year\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSun\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun to part shade (4+ hours) for best color\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate; water deeply through the first two seasons.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUSDA Zones\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3-7 (Twin Cities is zone 4b-5a)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoil\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAdaptable; tolerates Minnesota clay-loam.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFoliage\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEvergreen - golden foliage turning coppery-orange in fall and winter\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReliable to -40F.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeer Resistance\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLow - deer browse arborvitae; protect with fencing or repellent the first 2-3 winters.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNative Status\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSpecies native to Minnesota; 'Autumn Moon' is a cultivated globe selection\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAutumn Moon Arborvitae Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFoundation and Accent Beds with Changing Color\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAutumn Moon is never static — its golden summer foliage warms to a striking coppery-orange through fall and winter, so a single plant gives a foundation bed a focal point that evolves with the seasons. Use it where that color shift will be noticed, framing an entry or anchoring a corner in Edina, Plymouth, or Woodbury, and it never outgrows its tidy 3-to-4-foot globe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSmall-Yard Color and Mixed Borders\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts compact size suits the smaller beds of townhomes and city lots, and the warm tones pair beautifully with ornamental grasses, fall-blooming perennials, and dark green or blue evergreens for contrast. Tuck single plants among perennials for an evergreen anchor that carries warm color through the season in Maple Grove and St. Paul.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFall and Winter Glow\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAutumn Moon does its best work when the rest of the garden is winding down — the copper-orange peaks in late fall and holds through winter, glowing against snow and bare branches. For a landscape that needs life in the cold months, few small evergreens deliver this kind of seasonal warmth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Autumn Moon Arborvitae in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs an evergreen, Autumn Moon establishes best when planted in \u003cstrong\u003elate August through mid-September\u003c\/strong\u003e. The soil is still warm enough to drive root growth, while cooler air eases transplant stress and gives the plant six to eight weeks to settle in before the ground freezes around mid-November. \u003cstrong\u003eSpring (late April through May)\u003c\/strong\u003e is the solid second choice, leaving a full season to root before the first winter. Avoid the heat of midsummer, and never plant after mid-October — evergreens set out too late are prone to winter desiccation before their roots can support them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Autumn Moon Arborvitae\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDig wide, not deep.\u003c\/strong\u003e Make the hole 2 to 3 times the width of the root ball but no deeper — the top of the root ball should sit slightly above grade. In heavy clay, go even wider.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePick a bright spot.\u003c\/strong\u003e Autumn Moon colors best in full sun but tolerates part shade down to about four hours; the more sun, the richer the gold and copper. Avoid standing water — if drainage is poor, mound-plant a few inches high.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBackfill with amended soil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Mix your native soil with 20 to 30 percent compost to hold moisture and loosen heavy clay; this species rewards a richer backfill than junipers do.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpace for the use.\u003c\/strong\u003e Set plants about 3 feet apart for a low mass or color band, or use single plants as accents.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBuild a water basin.\u003c\/strong\u003e Form a 3 to 4 inch soil ring around the base to channel water to the roots. Flatten it before winter so ice doesn't collect against the trunk.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMulch with bark.\u003c\/strong\u003e Spread 2 to 3 inches of shredded bark or wood chips, kept 2 inches off the trunk, to lock in the moisture arborvitae crave. Skip gravel mulch — it bakes roots and gives no winter insulation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Autumn Moon Arborvitae in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFirst Year Watering Schedule\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeeks 1–2: Deep soak every 1 to 2 days (15–25 minutes at a slow trickle).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 1–2: Every 2 to 3 days — arborvitae need more consistent moisture than junipers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 3–6: Every 4 to 6 days during active growth; don't let the root zone dry out.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStop watering 2 to 3 weeks before the ground freezes (late October in the metro) — then give one last deep soak in early December, especially if fall was dry, to limit winter burn.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAfter Year One\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWater deeply through the first two seasons while the plant establishes. After that, Autumn Moon needs supplemental water mainly during dry spells — a deep soak every 7 to 10 days when there's been two-plus weeks without rain. It is less drought-tolerant than juniper or spruce, so don't let it bake, and always finish with that early-December deep watering before freeze.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill Autumn Moon Arborvitae survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — it's hardy to roughly -40°F (USDA zone 3), so cold is no concern. The coppery-orange winter color is the variety doing exactly what it should, not stress; it shifts back toward gold as the weather warms in spring. A deep December watering and, for newly planted globes in exposed spots, a light burlap screen the first winter help limit any harsh browning.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs it deer-resistant?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo — arborvitae are a favorite winter browse for Minnesota deer, including Autumn Moon, especially in high-pressure western suburbs like Minnetonka, Wayzata, and Chanhassen. Its small size makes protection easy, though: a quick burlap or netting wrap, or a rotated repellent, gets it through winter. Plan on protecting it the first 2 to 3 winters if deer visit your yard.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat makes its color different from Golden Globe?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhere Golden Globe and Lemon Burst stay gold, Autumn Moon changes through the year — gold in summer, then a warm coppery-orange in fall and winter. If you want a small evergreen that marks the seasons rather than holding one shade, Autumn Moon is the pick.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGolden Globe Arborvitae\u003c\/strong\u003e — a steady warm-gold globe for those who prefer one consistent color.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLemon Burst Arborvitae\u003c\/strong\u003e — a bright lemon-yellow globe for the most vivid gold.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlanet Earth Arborvitae\u003c\/strong\u003e — a deep green globe that sets off the warm tones as a cool contrast.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMr. Bowling Ball Arborvitae\u003c\/strong\u003e — a soft, feathery dwarf globe for low foundation and border structure.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- tt-enriched --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Many Autumn Moon Arborvitae Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a low foundation band or color mass, space Autumn Moon about 3 feet apart so the globes just touch at maturity:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRun Length\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePlants Needed (3 ft spacing)\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10 ft\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20 ft\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e30 ft\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e40 ft\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e13–14\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs an accent, a single globe at an entry or bed corner is enough — or flank a front step with a matched pair, 4+ feet from the foundation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAutumn Moon Arborvitae Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Copper tones soften back to fresh golden-yellow as new growth flushes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e A tidy, soft-textured gold globe that brightens green foundation plantings without any pruning.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e The signature shift — gold warms to a rich coppery-orange just as deciduous neighbors drop their leaves.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e Holds that copper glow against snow all winter; the color is natural, not damage, and reverses in spring.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAt a Glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✔ Minnesota Native   ✔ Evergreen   ✔ Four-Season Interest\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant It With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/golden-globe-arborvitae\"\u003eGolden Globe Arborvitae\u003c\/a\u003e — steady warm gold beside Autumn Moon's shifting copper.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/lemon-burst-arborvitae\"\u003eLemon Burst Arborvitae\u003c\/a\u003e — the most vivid lemon-gold globe for a brighter trio.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/planet-earth-arborvitae\"\u003ePlanet Earth Arborvitae\u003c\/a\u003e — deep green contrast that makes the warm tones pop.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/mr-bowling-ball-arborvitae\"\u003eMr. Bowling Ball Arborvitae\u003c\/a\u003e — a soft, feathery green dwarf globe for low border rhythm.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Autumn Moon Arborvitae Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIdeal for a sunny or lightly shaded foundation bed with decent drainage where you want year-round color in a small footprint — it never needs shearing and handles any Minnesota winter. It's not a fit if deer browse your yard unprotected (arborvitae is their favorite winter snack — plan on wrapping or repellent the first few winters), or if the site bakes hot and dry; it wants more consistent moisture than a juniper.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#3 Gallon","offer_id":54281626747185,"sku":"GT-E3233.3","price":58.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/autumn-moon-arborvitae.jpg?v=1779469309","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/autumn-moon-arborvitae","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}