{"product_id":"sting-arborvitae","title":"Sting Arborvitae","description":"\u003ch1\u003eThe Skinniest Arborvitae for Razor-Thin Vertical Accents\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSting Arborvitae (\u003cem\u003eThuja occidentalis\u003c\/em\u003e 'Sting') is arguably the narrowest arborvitae in the trade - a dramatic dark-green spire that reaches 15-20 feet tall while staying barely a foot wide. It holds rich green color all winter and makes a bold architectural statement in even the tightest planting strip.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSting Arborvitae Plant Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAttribute\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDetail\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eThuja occidentalis\u003c\/em\u003e 'Sting'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSting Arborvitae\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e15-20 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Width\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1-1.5 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate - 12-18 inches per year\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSun\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun (6+ hours)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate; water deeply through the first two seasons.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUSDA Zones\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4-8 (Twin Cities is zone 4b-5a)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoil\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAdaptable; tolerates Minnesota clay-loam.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFoliage\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEvergreen - dense, dark green sprays holding color through winter\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHardy through zone 4; in exposed sites, shelter from harsh winter wind.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeer Resistance\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLow - deer browse arborvitae; protect with fencing or repellent the first 2-3 winters.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNative Status\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSpecies native to Minnesota; 'Sting' is a cultivated ultra-narrow selection\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSting Arborvitae Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eRazor-Thin Vertical Accents\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSting is the skinniest arborvitae you can plant — just 1 to 1.5 feet wide while reaching 15 to 20 feet tall, a dramatic vertical exclamation point. Use a single plant to draw the eye skyward beside an entry, or a matched pair to frame a doorway with crisp, modern lines in Edina, Wayzata, or Minneapolis. It slips into the slot between a window and a corner where nothing else would fit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSkinny Screens for the Tightest Spaces\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhere a strip is too narrow for any other evergreen, Sting still makes a screen possible. Planted 1.5 to 2 feet apart it forms a tall, slender wall along a fence line, between a house and the lot line, or down a cramped side yard in Plymouth and St. Paul — privacy and height with almost no footprint. One caution for western suburbs: deer browse arborvitae heavily, so read the deer note below.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eArchitectural and Container Use\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat tall, columnar profile suits formal and architectural plantings — flanking a modern entry, lining a walkway, or anchoring large entry containers as living columns. In a pot, give it extra winter protection, since potted roots have little insulation against Minnesota cold.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Sting Arborvitae in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs an evergreen, Sting establishes best when planted in \u003cstrong\u003elate August through mid-September\u003c\/strong\u003e. 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. \u003cstrong\u003eSpring (late April through May)\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Sting Arborvitae\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDig wide, not deep.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMind the moisture.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBackfill with amended soil.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpace for the use.\u003c\/strong\u003e Set plants 1.5 to 2 feet apart for a skinny screen, or use single plants as razor-thin vertical accents.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBuild a water basin.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMulch with bark.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Sting Arborvitae in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFirst Year Watering Schedule\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeeks 1–2: Deep soak every 1 to 2 days (15–25 minutes at a slow trickle).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 1–2: Every 2 to 3 days — arborvitae need more consistent moisture than junipers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 3–6: Every 4 to 6 days during active growth; don't let the root zone dry out.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStop 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.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAfter Year One\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWater deeply through the first two seasons while the plant establishes. After that, Sting 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill Sting Arborvitae survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — it's hardy through USDA zone 4, which covers the Twin Cities' zone 4b–5a, and holds dark green color through the cold. Because it's so slender, give it a sheltered spot away from the harshest winter wind, brush off heavy snow so the narrow column doesn't bend or splay, and water deeply in early December. In very exposed sites, a burlap wind screen the first winter or two is worthwhile.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs it deer-resistant?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo — deer favor arborvitae as a winter food and will browse Sting 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow narrow does it really stay?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRemarkably narrow — just 1 to 1.5 feet wide at maturity against a height of 15 to 20 feet. That extreme slimness is the whole appeal: dramatic height in the tightest of spaces. Plant it in full sun for the densest growth, and space several in a row for a screen since one plant won't fill any width.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThin Man Arborvitae\u003c\/strong\u003e — a fast, narrow green column a bit fuller than Sting for quicker screens.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTall Guy Arborvitae\u003c\/strong\u003e — a narrow, deep-green pyramid for slender privacy with more body.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEmerald Green Arborvitae\u003c\/strong\u003e — the classic narrow arborvitae for tidy, formal privacy hedges.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHetzii Columnaris Juniper\u003c\/strong\u003e — a deer-resistant narrow green column for high deer-pressure yards.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- tt-enriched --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Many Sting Arborvitae Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a razor-thin screen, space Sting 1.5–2 feet on center (mature width is only 1–1.5 feet, so tight spacing is what closes the wall):\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRun Length\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlants at 2-ft Spacing\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e11 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e30 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e16 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs an accent, use a single spire beside an entry or a matched pair flanking a doorway — each needs barely 2 feet of ground.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSting Arborvitae Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fresh bright-green growth extends the spire 12–18 inches; the column stays pencil-tight without shearing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dense, dark-green sprays make a crisp architectural line through the growing season.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e Holds rich green color while everything deciduous drops away around it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e A dark evergreen exclamation point against the snow — brush off heavy, wet snowfalls so the slim column doesn't splay.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAt a Glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✔ Minnesota Native   ✔ Evergreen   ✔ Four-Season Interest\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant It With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/thin-man-arborvitae\"\u003eThin Man Arborvitae\u003c\/a\u003e — a slightly fuller, fast narrow column where you want quicker coverage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/emerald-green-arborvitae\"\u003eEmerald Green Arborvitae\u003c\/a\u003e — the classic formal hedge arborvitae for wider runs.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/blue-arrow-juniper\"\u003eBlue Arrow Juniper\u003c\/a\u003e — a deer-resistant steel-blue column for high deer-pressure yards.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/sky-rocket-juniper\"\u003eSky Rocket Juniper\u003c\/a\u003e — silvery vertical companion that deer leave alone.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Sting Arborvitae Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSting is the answer when the space is impossibly narrow — a 2-foot strip along a fence, the slot beside a garage — and you still want 15–20 feet of evergreen height. Give it full sun, steady moisture, and some shelter from brutal winter wind. It's not a fit for high deer-pressure yards without protection: deer browse arborvitae hard in winter, so in Minnetonka or Chanhassen choose a narrow juniper instead or commit to repellent and wrapping.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#2 Gallon","offer_id":54281581003057,"sku":"GT-E3530","price":37.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/sting-arborvitae.jpg?v=1779469304","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/sting-arborvitae","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}