A Compact Globe Arborvitae for Minnesota Foundation Beds

Little Giant Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'Little Giant') is a dense rounded globe arborvitae that tops out around 4–6 feet tall and wide. Reliable to -40°F. Perfect for foundation beds, low borders, and entry accents in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Edina yards where a full-size arborvitae would be too much.

Little Giant Arborvitae Plant Details

Little Giant Arborvitae Uses in Minnesota Landscapes

Foundation Plantings

At 4–6 ft mature, Little Giant tucks under second-story windows and frames entries without overwhelming the facade. Space 4 feet apart for a continuous low border.

Mixed Evergreen Bed Anchor

Pair Little Giant with Hetz Midget Arborvitae and 'Montgomery' Blue Spruce for a layered dwarf evergreen bed that holds visual interest year-round.

Best Time to Plant Little Giant Arborvitae in Minnesota

Fall — late August through mid-September — is the ideal planting window for evergreens like Little Giant Arborvitae. 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 Little Giant 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 — 4 feet apart for closed low border; 5–6 feet for individual specimens.
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 Little Giant 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 Little Giant Arborvitae 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 Little Giant Arborvitae 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 Little Giant survive a Minnesota winter?

Yes — rated to USDA zone 3 (-40°F).

How is Little Giant different from Hetz Midget?

Both are dwarf 4–6 ft globe arborvitaes. Little Giant is denser and slightly taller; Hetz Midget is the classic original with similar form. Either works in the same situations.

Will deer eat it?

Yes, in winter. Protect first-year plants with snow fence or netting.

How fast does it grow?

Slow — 4–6 inches per year. A 7-gallon plant reaches mature 4–6 ft in 8–12 years.

You May Also Like

• Hetz Midget Arborvitae — Similar dwarf globe form — pair for variety in foundation beds.
• Boxwood 'Green Velvet' — Low globe (3–4 ft) anchors the front of Little Giant rows.
• 'Montgomery' Colorado Blue Spruce — Dwarf blue spruce that contrasts with Little Giant's green color.
• Karl Foerster Grass — Vertical accent that complements Little Giant's rounded form.

How Many Little Giant Arborvitae Do I Need?

For a continuous low border or foundation row, space Little Giant 4 feet apart (the body's own spacing for a closed row at its 4–6 foot mature width):

For individual specimens or an entry pair, allow a 5–6 foot circle each. Remember it adds only 4–6 inches a year — plan on 8–12 years for a #7 plant to reach full size, or buy bigger stock for faster impact.

Little Giant Arborvitae Season-by-Season in Minnesota

• Spring: Fresh bright-green tips flush over the globe in May; no pruning needed — the dense rounded form is genetic, not sheared.
• Summer: A tidy, deep-green sphere of soft scaled foliage that anchors foundation beds while perennials come and go around it.
• Fall: Holds its green as deciduous shrubs drop; a good moment for a deep December watering if fall ran dry.
• Winter: Deep green color holds through five months of snow — wrap or net young plants, since hungry deer browse arborvitae hard in winter.

At a Glance

✔ Minnesota Native   ✔ Evergreen   ✔ Four-Season Interest

Plant It With

• Hetz Midget Arborvitae — the classic dwarf globe in the same size class; mix the two for subtle variety.
• Green Velvet Boxwood — a lower 3–4 ft globe that fronts a Little Giant row neatly.
• Montgomery Colorado Blue Spruce — dwarf silver-blue contrast for Little Giant's deep green.
• Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass — a vertical wand that plays off the rounded globes.

Is Little Giant Arborvitae Right for Your Yard?

Little Giant fits full-sun to part-shade foundation beds and low borders in ordinary Twin Cities clay-loam, needing only moderate water and a 5–6 foot pocket at maturity — a native-species dwarf that never outgrows the window line. It's not a fit for unprotected high-deer-pressure yards (winter browse can disfigure young plants without netting) or for anyone needing fast results, since it grows just 4–6 inches a year.