The Dwarf Globe Evergreen That Actually Stays Small in Minnesota Yards

Hetz Midget Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'Hetz Midget') is the rare evergreen that doesn't need annual pruning to stay tidy. This slow-growing globe form tops out at 3–4 feet tall and equally wide, holding its dense, ball-like shape on its own. Reliable to -40°F, zero needle drop, and unfazed by Minnesota's clay-loam soil — whether you're tucking accents under a Minneapolis bay window, anchoring a St. Paul foundation bed, or lining an Edina front walk, Hetz Midget gives you year-round green without the annual battle to keep it small.

Hetz Midget Arborvitae Plant Details

Hetz Midget Arborvitae Uses in Minnesota Landscapes

Foundation Plantings That Stay Below the Window

The biggest mistake homeowners make with foundation evergreens is planting cultivars that look perfect at the nursery, then swallow the front of the house in five years. Hetz Midget eliminates that problem — at a 3–4 foot mature height, it fits comfortably under most window sills without ever needing to be sheared. Space 3 feet apart for a continuous low evergreen ribbon, or use individual plants as anchors at the corners of beds. Pairs beautifully with Boxwood 'Green Velvet' for color contrast and with Karl Foerster Grass for vertical accent.

Evergreen Border for Walkways and Front Beds

A row of Hetz Midget along a front walkway gives you year-round structure that doesn't go dormant in October. Spacing of 30–36 inches creates a tight, almost topiary-like effect once mature. Because they're so slow-growing, you can plant them at near-final size and they'll hold the look for a decade with virtually no maintenance.

Container Gardens and Urn Plantings

Hetz Midget is one of the few hardy evergreens that performs well in large containers in the Twin Cities — the dense root system tolerates the freeze-thaw cycle better than most conifers. Use a minimum 24-inch diameter pot, well-draining soil, and locate where the container catches winter snow cover (insulation against sub-zero windchill). Skip terra-cotta — it cracks. Glazed ceramic or fiberglass holds up.

Best Time to Plant Hetz Midget Arborvitae in Minnesota

Fall — late August through mid-September — is the ideal planting window for evergreens like Hetz Midget. Soil is still warm enough for root development, cool air reduces transplant shock, and the plant gets 6–8 weeks to establish roots before the typical mid-November ground freeze in the Twin Cities. The earlier window matters specifically for evergreens because they continue losing moisture through their needles all winter, so root establishment before freeze is critical.

Spring (late April through May, after ground thaw) is the second-best window — you get a full growing season ahead. Avoid summer planting (June–August) when possible; if you must, water heavily and mulch deeply. Never plant after mid-October or before late April, when frozen ground or frost-heaving will kill new roots.

How to Plant Hetz Midget Arborvitae

1. Dig wide, not deep — 2–3x the root ball width, same depth. In heavy clay, dig even wider (3–4x).
2. Check for clay hardpan — if water pools in the hole, break through the clay layer or mound-plant 2–3 inches above grade to improve drainage.
3. Backfill with native soil mixed with 20–30% compost. Don't fill the hole with pure compost — it creates a "container" effect that traps water around the roots.
4. Spacing — 30–36 inches apart for a continuous low border; 4–5 feet for individual specimen plantings.
5. Build a 3–4 inch water basin around the plant to direct water to the roots. Flatten or remove the basin in late October to prevent ice damage over winter.
6. Mulch with 2–3 inches of shredded bark or wood chip mulch, kept 2 inches away from the trunk. Do NOT use gravel mulch — it doesn't insulate roots in Minnesota winters.

Watering Hetz Midget Arborvitae in Minnesota

First Year Watering Schedule

• Weeks 1–2: Every 1–2 days, deep and slow (15–25 minutes)
• Month 1–2: Every 3–4 days
• Month 3–6: Every 5–7 days during active growth; less if rainfall is adequate (Minnesota averages roughly 3 inches/month June–August)
• Stop watering 2–3 weeks before ground freeze (typically late October in Twin Cities metro). Continued late-fall watering can push tender new growth that gets killed by winter.
• One deep watering in early December is a good idea for evergreens if fall has been dry — it helps the plant resist winter desiccation.

After Year One

• Established Hetz Midget rarely needs supplemental water. Water deeply during droughts (2+ weeks of no rain combined with temps above 80°F).
• Soak to 6–8 inches depth, every 7–14 days during dry spells. Let natural rainfall do the rest.

Drip Irrigation in Minnesota

Drip works well for Hetz Midget if your beds already have a system. Place emitters 12–18 inches from the trunk. Always blow out lines and shut off the timer by early October — frozen drip lines split.

Will Hetz Midget Arborvitae survive a Minnesota winter?

Yes — easily. It's rated to USDA zone 3, which is hardier than the entire Twin Cities metro (zone 4b–5a). No burlap wrap or winter protection is needed for established plants. First-year plants benefit from a thick mulch ring to prevent frost-heaving while roots establish.

Does Hetz Midget need pruning?

Almost never. That's the whole appeal. The plant naturally holds a dense, symmetrical globe shape at 3–4 feet without intervention. If you want to tidy stray growth, light shearing in late spring (after new growth pushes) is fine — just don't cut into bare older wood, which won't resprout.

Will deer eat Hetz Midget Arborvitae?

Deer browse arborvitae heavily in winter when other food is scarce, especially in western suburbs like Minnetonka, Wayzata, Eden Prairie, and Chanhassen. Plan to protect first-year plants with snow fence, deer netting, or a repellent spray rotation. Established plants in lower-pressure suburbs are usually left alone, but assume some browsing risk anywhere with a deer population.

How fast does Hetz Midget grow?

Slow — 2 to 3 inches per year in Minnesota. A 5-gallon container plant will reach mature size (3–4 feet) in roughly 8–12 years. This is a feature, not a bug — it means the plant holds its size and shape for decades.

Can I plant Hetz Midget in shade?

Tolerates part shade (4–6 hours of direct sun) but performs best in full sun. In deep shade, the globe form opens up and growth becomes sparse. For deeply shaded foundation beds, consider Boxwood 'Green Velvet' instead.

What's the difference between Hetz Midget and other dwarf globe arborvitaes?

Hetz Midget is the original dwarf white cedar globe, in the trade since the 1920s. It tops out smaller (3–4 ft) than 'Mr. Bowling Ball' (~3 ft but lacier texture) and stays greener through winter than gold-tinted cultivars like 'Anna's Magic Ball'. The classic, no-surprises choice.

You May Also Like

• Boxwood 'Green Velvet' — Deciduous-style dense globe, also stays 3–4 feet, better in shade than Hetz Midget.
• 'Techny' Arborvitae — Same species, but a 12–15 ft hedge form for privacy screening.
• Black Hills Spruce — Tall (30+ ft) Minnesota-native evergreen for backyard windbreaks.
• Karl Foerster Grass — Vertical accent that pairs perfectly with Hetz Midget's globe shape in mixed beds.

How Many Hetz Midget Arborvitae Do I Need?

For a continuous low evergreen ribbon along a walk or foundation, space Hetz Midget about 3 feet apart (the body's 30–36 inch spacing):

For individual accents at bed corners or flanking an entry, give each globe a 4–5 foot circle; a matched pair on either side of a front door is the classic use.

Hetz Midget Arborvitae Season-by-Season in Minnesota

• Spring: Soft, bright-green new growth pushes over the whole globe; if you ever shear, do it lightly now, after the flush.
• Summer: A dense, perfectly rounded ball of fine evergreen texture — no pruning, no fuss, just 2–3 inches of slow growth a year.
• Fall: Holds its green while everything around it goes dormant; give it one deep watering before freeze-up so the needles ride out winter hydrated.
• Winter: Stays green under the snow with zero needle drop and no burlap needed — the foundation bed still looks planted in January.

At a Glance

✔ Minnesota Native   ✔ Evergreen   ✔ Four-Season Interest

Plant It With

• Green Velvet Boxwood — the body's own pairing: a matching 3–4 ft globe that handles more shade and adds leaf-texture contrast.
• Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass — the vertical exclamation point next to Hetz Midget's round period; the body's classic combo.
• Techny Arborvitae — same native species at hedge scale; use it behind the globes for layered privacy.
• Black Hills Spruce — the body's pick for a tall Minnesota-native evergreen backdrop or windbreak.

Is Hetz Midget Arborvitae Right for Your Yard?

Say yes if you want permanent, no-prune evergreen structure under windows, along walks, or in containers — in full sun to light part shade, it holds a tidy 3–4 foot globe for decades in Twin Cities clay. It's not a fit for deep shade (the globe opens up and thins) or for heavy deer neighborhoods without protection — deer browse young arborvitae hard in winter, so plan on netting or repellent the first couple of years.