A Fast, Tall Arborvitae for Quick Minnesota Privacy

Hetz Wintergreen Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'Hetz Wintergreen') is one of the fastest-growing arborvitae for upper-Midwest privacy. It builds a tall, full pyramid 20-30 feet tall and 6-10 feet wide, with soft, deep green foliage that stays rich through winter. When you need a screen in a hurry, this is the workhorse.

Hetz Wintergreen Arborvitae Plant Details

Hetz Wintergreen Arborvitae Uses in Minnesota Landscapes

Fast, Tall Privacy Screens

When you need privacy fast, Hetz Wintergreen delivers — growing up to 2 to 3 feet a year once established and reaching 20 to 30 feet tall. Planted 4 to 5 feet apart it forms a dense, towering screen that blocks even second-story views within a few seasons. It's a top pick for back property lines on larger lots in Maple Grove, Woodbury, and Lakeville. Note for western suburbs: deer browse arborvitae heavily, so see the deer note below.

Windbreaks and Property Lines

Its size and density also make Hetz Wintergreen an excellent windbreak along an open property line or field edge in Eden Prairie or the outer-ring suburbs. A staggered double row gives the best wind protection, and the soft, full sprays screen views completely from the ground up.

Deep Green Winter Color

Hetz Wintergreen lives up to its name: where many arborvitae fade to a dull bronze in the cold, this one holds a rich, deep green right through a Minnesota winter. That means a screen that still looks lush and intentional in February, not tired and brown — a real advantage when an evergreen is doing the work of a fence year-round.

Best Time to Plant Hetz Wintergreen Arborvitae in Minnesota

As an evergreen, Hetz Wintergreen establishes best when planted in late August through mid-September. 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. Spring (late April through May) 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.

How to Plant Hetz Wintergreen Arborvitae

1. Dig wide, not deep. 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.
2. Mind the moisture. Arborvitae like consistent moisture, so a spot that doesn't bake dry is ideal — but avoid standing water; if drainage is poor, mound-plant a few inches high.
3. Backfill with amended soil. 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.
4. Space for the use. Set plants 4 to 5 feet apart for a fast privacy screen, or 6 to 8 feet apart in a staggered double row for a windbreak.
5. Build a water basin. 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.
6. Mulch with bark. 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.

Watering Hetz Wintergreen Arborvitae in Minnesota

First Year Watering Schedule

• Weeks 1–2: Deep soak every 1 to 2 days (15–25 minutes at a slow trickle).
• Month 1–2: Every 2 to 3 days — arborvitae need more consistent moisture than junipers.
• Month 3–6: Every 4 to 6 days during active growth; don't let the root zone dry out. Fast growers like this one are thirsty as they establish.
• Stop 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.

After Year One

Water deeply through the first two seasons while the plant establishes. After that, Hetz Wintergreen 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.

Will Hetz Wintergreen Arborvitae survive a Minnesota winter?

Yes — it's hardy to roughly -40°F (USDA zone 3), and its standout trait is holding deep green color through the cold instead of bronzing. On a tall screen, brush heavy snow off the branches so they don't break or splay, and give a deep December watering; that's about all this tough, native-species selection needs.

Is it deer-resistant?

No — deer favor arborvitae as a winter food and will browse Hetz Wintergreen up to about five feet, leaving a tall screen bare at the bottom, especially in high-pressure western suburbs like Minnetonka, Wayzata, and Chanhassen. Plan to protect young plants: a winter repellent rotated through the season, burlap or netting wraps, or fencing. Where deer pressure is severe and a long screen can't be protected, a spruce or juniper windbreak is the more deer-proof choice.

How fast does it really grow?

Fast — up to 2 to 3 feet a year once established, among the quickest arborvitae for screening. Give it full sun (it also takes part shade), steady water the first two seasons, and room to reach 20 to 30 feet tall and 6 to 10 feet wide. Space accordingly so the screen doesn't crowd as it fills in.

You May Also Like

• Techny Arborvitae — a tough, slightly more compact fast screen that also holds green winter color.
• American Arborvitae (White Cedar) — the big Minnesota-native species for tall screens and wet sites.
• Emerald Green Arborvitae — a narrower, more formal arborvitae for tidy privacy hedges.
• Moffat Blue Juniper — a deer-resistant blue evergreen alternative for screens in high deer-pressure yards.

How Many Hetz Wintergreen Arborvitae Do I Need?

For a privacy screen, plant Hetz Wintergreen 4–5 feet apart in a single row (use 6–8 feet in a staggered double row for a windbreak):

Hetz Wintergreen Arborvitae Season-by-Season in Minnesota

• Spring: A flush of bright new growth pushes the screen taller — this is when those 2–3 feet of annual height go on.
• Summer: Soft, dense deep-green sprays fill in from the ground up, thickening the wall of privacy.
• Fall: Foliage stays rich green while deciduous neighbors drop — the screen suddenly earns its keep.
• Winter: Holds deep green color through −40°F instead of bronzing; brush off heavy snow loads to keep branches from splaying.

At a Glance

✔ Evergreen   ✔ Four-Season Interest   ✔ Shade-Tolerant

Plant It With

• Techny Arborvitae — slightly more compact screening partner with the same green winter color.
• American Arborvitae (White Cedar) — the big Minnesota-native species for tall screens and wetter sites.
• Emerald Green Arborvitae — narrower, formal hedge form for tighter spots near the patio.
• Moffat Blue Juniper — deer-resistant blue evergreen to mix in where browsing pressure is high.

Is Hetz Wintergreen Arborvitae Right for Your Yard?

Choose Hetz Wintergreen if you have a sunny to partly shaded property line, decent moisture, and room for a 20–30 foot evergreen wall — it's the fastest honest route to tall, green, year-round privacy in the metro. It's not a fit for unprotected yards with heavy deer pressure (deer strip arborvitae to five feet) or hot, dry sites that bake — go with a juniper or spruce screen there instead.