An Ultra-Narrow Column for Pencil-Thin Privacy

Primo Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'IsItom', sold as First Editions Primo) packs dense, deep-green foliage into one of the narrowest columns available - about 8-10 feet tall and just 1-2 feet wide. It needs almost no shearing to stay tidy, making it ideal for slim screens and tight modern plantings where every inch counts.

Primo Arborvitae Plant Details

Primo Arborvitae Uses in Minnesota Landscapes

Pencil-Thin Privacy for Small Spaces

Primo is pencil-thin — just 1 to 2 feet wide — but tops out at a manageable 8 to 10 feet, so it gives you narrow privacy without towering overhead. That makes it ideal for tight side yards, beneath utility lines, or small city lots where a 20-foot column would be too much. Plant them 1.5 to 2 feet apart for a slim screen along a fence or lot line in Edina, Plymouth, and St. Paul. One caution for western suburbs: deer browse arborvitae heavily, so see the deer note below.

Vertical Structure at Human Scale

Primo's tight, columnar form adds crisp vertical structure without the height of the giants. Use a single plant to punctuate a bed or a matched pair to frame a doorway or window in Maple Grove or Wayzata — formal lines that stay in proportion to a one-story home. The deep green foliage is held tightly, so it keeps clean edges with little to no shearing.

Part-Shade and Cold-Tough Sites

Hardy to roughly -40°F and tolerant of part shade down to about four hours of sun, Primo is more forgiving than the tall, sun-demanding narrow types. It can hold a vertical line on the shadier north or east side of a house or in a cold, exposed corner where fussier columns struggle.

Best Time to Plant Primo Arborvitae in Minnesota

As an evergreen, Primo 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 Primo 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 1.5 to 2 feet apart for a slim screen, or use single plants as narrow vertical accents.
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 Primo 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.
• 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, Primo 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 Primo Arborvitae survive a Minnesota winter?

Easily — it's hardy to roughly -40°F (USDA zone 3), comfortably below anything the Twin Cities' zone 4b–5a delivers. As with any narrow column, brush off heavy snow so it doesn't bend, and give a deep December watering to limit winter burn; in very exposed sites a burlap wind screen the first winter helps, though Primo's cold-hardiness makes it one of the more reliable skinny arborvitae here.

Is it deer-resistant?

No — deer favor arborvitae as a winter food and will browse Primo wherever they can reach, especially in high-pressure western suburbs like Minnetonka, Wayzata, and Chanhassen. Plan to protect it: a winter repellent rotated through the season, a burlap or netting wrap, or fencing. Where deer pressure is severe and protection isn't practical, a narrow juniper offers a vertical accent with genuine deer resistance.

How tall and wide does it get?

Primo stays slim at 1 to 2 feet wide and tops out around 8 to 10 feet tall, growing slowly at 4 to 8 inches a year. It's the pick when you want a narrow column that won't outgrow a small yard or reach into utility lines. Space several in a row for a screen, since one plant won't fill any width.

You May Also Like

• Sting Arborvitae — an even taller, razor-thin column for dramatic 15-to-20-foot vertical accents.
• Thin Man Arborvitae — a fast, narrow green column for quicker, slightly fuller screens.
• Emerald Green Arborvitae — the classic narrow arborvitae for tidy, formal privacy hedges.
• Hetzii Columnaris Juniper — a deer-resistant narrow green column for high deer-pressure yards.

How Many Primo Arborvitae Do I Need?

Primo is only 1–2 feet wide, so a screen takes more plants than a typical arborvitae — space them 1.5–2 feet apart on center for a solid slim wall.

For accents, a single column punctuates a bed, and matched pairs flank a door or gate at 3–4 feet from the structure.

Primo Arborvitae Season-by-Season in Minnesota

• Spring: Fresh, bright-green new growth tips the tight sprays as the column resumes its slow, tidy 4–8 inches of growth — no shearing needed to keep the line crisp.
• Summer: A dense, deep-green exclamation point that holds its pencil-thin silhouette through heat and humidity.
• Fall: Stays rich green as deciduous neighbors turn, becoming the structural anchor of the bed.
• Winter: Holds color and form through -40°F; brush off heavy snow so the narrow column doesn't splay, and protect from browsing deer.

At a Glance

✔ Minnesota Native   ✔ Shade-Tolerant   ✔ Evergreen   ✔ Four-Season Interest

Plant It With

• Sting Arborvitae — a taller razor-thin column when you want more height drama.
• Thin Man Arborvitae — a faster, fuller narrow column for quicker screens.
• Emerald Green Arborvitae — the classic formal hedge arborvitae where you have a bit more width.
• Hetzii Columnaris Juniper — the deer-resistant vertical alternative for high-pressure yards.

Is Primo Arborvitae Right for Your Yard?

Choose it if you need true vertical structure or privacy in a space measured in inches — tight side yards, under wires, small urban lots, or formal frames — with at least 4 hours of sun and soil that doesn't bake dry. It's not a fit for unprotected high-deer areas (arborvitae is winter candy for deer) or for anyone needing a fast screen; at 4–8 inches a year, Primo rewards patience.