{"product_id":"tall-guy-arborvitae","title":"Tall Guy Arborvitae","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA Narrow, Fast Pyramid for Slender Privacy Screens\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTall Guy Arborvitae (\u003cem\u003eThuja occidentalis\u003c\/em\u003e 'Tall Guy') is a narrow, upright pyramid built for privacy in smaller yards. It grows quickly to 10-15 feet tall while staying a tidy 3-4 feet wide, holding dense, deep-green foliage that resists winter burn. A practical choice when you want height without a lot of width.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTall Guy 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 'Tall Guy'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTall Guy Arborvitae\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10-15 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Width\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3-4 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate to fast - 12-24 inches per year\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSun\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun to part shade (4+ 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\u003e3-7 (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 deep-green sprays\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReliable to -40F.\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; 'Tall Guy' is a cultivated narrow selection\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTall Guy Arborvitae Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSlender Privacy Screens\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTall Guy delivers privacy in a slim footprint — 10 to 15 feet tall but only 3 to 4 feet wide, with a dense, deep-green pyramidal form that reads more polished than a loose hedge. Planted about 2.5 to 3 feet apart it makes a refined living wall along a tight property line or between houses in Maple Grove, Plymouth, and Woodbury. Its moderate-to-fast growth fills the gap within a few seasons. Note for western suburbs: deer browse arborvitae heavily, so see the deer note below.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCorner and Foundation Accents\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe neat pyramidal shape makes Tall Guy a natural vertical accent. A single plant anchors a house corner, and a matched pair frames an entry or garage with formal height in Edina or Wayzata — all without the spread of a full-size spruce. The rich, dense green holds its color and fullness from top to bottom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePart-Shade Screening\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTall Guy tolerates part shade — around four hours of sun — so it can screen the shadier north or east side of a property or a spot under high canopy in Minneapolis and St. Paul where blue evergreens grow thin. It's fullest in more sun but stays presentable in dappled light.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Tall Guy Arborvitae in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs an evergreen, Tall Guy 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 Tall Guy 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 2.5 to 3 feet apart for a slender privacy screen, or use single plants as 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 Tall Guy 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, Tall Guy 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 Tall Guy Arborvitae survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — it's hardy to roughly -40°F (USDA zone 3) and holds its deep green through the cold. As with any narrow upright, manage winter burn and snow load: brush off heavy snow so the column doesn't splay, give a deep December watering, and in very exposed sites add a burlap wind screen the first winter or two.\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 Tall Guy up to about five feet, 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 juniper screen gives similar privacy with genuine deer resistance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow is it different from Thin Man?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBoth are narrow, fast privacy uprights around 10 to 15 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide. Tall Guy carries a denser, deeper green and a more distinctly pyramidal shape, while Thin Man has a softer, feathery bright-green texture. Either makes an excellent slim screen — it comes down to the color and form you prefer.\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 sister narrow upright with softer, feathery bright-green foliage.\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\u003eTechny Arborvitae\u003c\/strong\u003e — a tough, fuller arborvitae for broader screens and windbreaks.\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 Tall Guy Arborvitae Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a solid slim screen, space Tall Guy 2.5–3 feet on center (its own planting guide's spacing):\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScreen Length\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlants Needed (≈3 ft spacing)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e30 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e11 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor accents, use a single plant at a house corner or a matched pair flanking an entry — give each about 4 feet of width to fill.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTall Guy Arborvitae Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fresh bright-green tips push from every spray as growth resumes — expect 12–24 inches of new height per year.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dense, deep-green pyramidal foliage at its fullest, knitting a screen closed within a few seasons.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e Holds its rich green while deciduous neighbors drop, and the screen's value becomes obvious as sightlines open up everywhere else.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e Deep green color persists through -40°F cold with good burn resistance — brush heavy snow off so the narrow column doesn't splay.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAt a Glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✔ Minnesota Native   ✔ Shade-Tolerant   ✔ 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 — the softer, feathery sister upright; mix the two textures in one slim screen.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/emerald-green-arborvitae\"\u003eEmerald Green Arborvitae\u003c\/a\u003e — the classic formal narrow arborvitae for tidy hedge runs.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/techny-arborvitae\"\u003eTechny Arborvitae\u003c\/a\u003e — a fuller, tougher arborvitae where you have width for a broad windbreak.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/blue-arrow-juniper\"\u003eBlue Arrow Juniper\u003c\/a\u003e — a deer-resistant narrow column for the high-pressure stretches of the same property line.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Tall Guy Arborvitae Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChoose it if you need 10–15 feet of privacy in a strip only 3–4 feet wide, with full sun to part shade and soil that doesn't bake bone-dry — it's native-species tough, zone-3 hardy, and faster than Emerald Green. Not a fit if you have heavy deer pressure and can't protect it: deer browse arborvitae hard in winter, so in Minnetonka- or Chanhassen-level deer country plant a juniper column instead or commit to repellent and wrap for the first few winters.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#2 Gallon","offer_id":54281589227825,"sku":"GT-E3545.2","price":32.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"#5 Gallon","offer_id":54281589260593,"sku":"GT-E3545.6","price":45.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/tall-guy-arborvitae.jpg?v=1779469309","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/tall-guy-arborvitae","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}