A Narrow Hardy Pyramidal Arborvitae for Minnesota Privacy

North Pole Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'Art Boe', sold under the Proven Winners brand) is a narrow zone-3 columnar arborvitae developed for cold-climate privacy hedges. 10–15 feet tall, 5 feet wide, deep dark green color year-round. Reliable to -40°F. Bred specifically for upper Midwest yards.

North Pole Arborvitae Plant Details

North Pole Arborvitae Uses in Minnesota Landscapes

Cold-Climate Privacy Hedge

Plant 3–4 feet apart for closed privacy in 4–6 years. The narrow form fits tight Twin Cities lots; the zone 3 hardiness handles winter without burning.

Driveway and Property-Line Accents

Pairs of North Pole flank entries cleanly. Holds dark green color through winter without bronzing common in some other cultivars.

Best Time to Plant North Pole Arborvitae in Minnesota

Fall — late August through mid-September — is the ideal planting window for evergreens like North Pole 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 North Pole 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 — 3–4 feet apart for closed privacy hedge; 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 North Pole 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 North Pole 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 North Pole 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 North Pole survive a Minnesota winter?

Yes — rated to USDA zone 3 (-40°F). Bred for cold-climate performance.

How is North Pole different from American Pillar?

Both are narrow columnar zone 3 arborvitaes. American Pillar grows faster (2–3 ft/year vs. 1–1.5 ft/year for North Pole) but North Pole holds its narrow form a bit tighter without shearing.

Will deer eat it?

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

How fast does it grow?

Moderate — 12–18 inches per year. A 10-gallon plant reaches mature 10–15 ft in 7–10 years.

You May Also Like

• American Pillar Arborvitae — Faster-growing narrow companion for layered privacy.
• Hetz Midget Arborvitae — Dwarf globe form anchors the base of North Pole columns.
• Boxwood 'Green Velvet' — Low globe (3–4 ft) for foundation transitions.
• Black Hills Spruce — Larger Minnesota-native evergreen for backyard companion.

How Many North Pole Arborvitae Do I Need?

For a closed privacy hedge, plant North Pole 3–4 feet apart (use 3 ft for faster closure, 4 ft to save plants on a longer run):

For standalone accents or entry pairs, give each plant 5–6 feet so the column stays distinct.

North Pole Arborvitae Season-by-Season in Minnesota

• Spring: Fresh bright-green growth tips the dense column as it adds its first of 12–18 inches for the year; a light shear now (if you shear at all) keeps the line crisp.
• Summer: A solid, dark-green wall of scaled foliage — full privacy screen mode with essentially no maintenance beyond drought watering.
• Fall: Foliage stays deep green while deciduous neighbors drop; this is the season your hedge starts earning its keep as the yard opens up.
• Winter: The big differentiator — North Pole holds dark green color to -40°F without the winter bronzing many arborvitae show, and the narrow column sheds snow load well.

At a Glance

✔ Minnesota Native   ✔ Evergreen   ✔ Four-Season Interest

Plant It With

• American Pillar Arborvitae — the faster-growing column; mix the two for layered, staggered-height privacy.
• Hetz Midget Arborvitae — a dwarf globe that anchors the base of the columns in a foundation bed.
• Green Velvet Boxwood — a low formal globe to transition from hedge to walkway.
• Black Hills Spruce — the native heavyweight evergreen for the backdrop or windbreak layer behind the hedge.

Is North Pole Arborvitae Right for Your Yard?

Choose North Pole if you need a tidy, no-shear privacy column in full sun on a tight Twin Cities lot — it handles clay-loam, shrugs off zone-3 cold, and keeps its dark green color all winter. Not a fit if deer pressure is heavy and you won't protect it: like all arborvitae, deer will browse it in winter, so plan on netting or fencing the first couple of years (or choose a spruce or juniper instead).