How Far Apart to Plant Arborvitae? The Short Answer
Spacing depends on the variety and what you're trying to accomplish. For a solid privacy screen, plant arborvitae closer together so the branches touch within 2–3 years. For a natural windbreak or specimen planting, give each tree more room to develop its full shape.
Here's the quick-reference breakdown before we go deep:
| Variety | Privacy Hedge | Windbreak / Natural | Specimen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Giant | 5–6 ft apart | 8–10 ft apart | 10–15 ft apart |
| Emerald Green | 2–3 ft apart | 3–4 ft apart | 4–5 ft apart |
| Elegantissima | 3–4 ft apart | 5–6 ft apart | 6–8 ft apart |
| Golden Globe | 3–4 ft apart | 4–5 ft apart | 5–6 ft apart |
Why Spacing Matters More Than Most People Think
Plant arborvitae too close and you'll get a solid screen fast — but in 5–7 years the trees start competing for light, water, and nutrients. The interior branches die out, the bottoms go bare, and you end up with a gappy, leggy hedge that's hard to fix without removing trees.
Plant them too far apart and you're waiting 5+ years for privacy, or you never get a solid screen at all.
The goal is to find the spacing that gives you privacy within 2–3 growing seasons while leaving enough room for each tree to stay healthy and full from top to bottom for decades.
Green Giant Arborvitae Spacing
Green Giant is the fastest-growing arborvitae — up to 3–5 feet per year under good conditions. It gets 20–40 feet tall and 12–20 feet wide at maturity. That width is the key number for spacing.
- Privacy hedge: 5–6 ft apart. Branches will touch and interlock within 2–3 years. This is the most popular spacing for solid screening.
- Windbreak: 8–10 ft apart. Allows each tree to develop its full pyramidal shape while still creating a dense barrier.
- Specimen / accent: 10–15 ft apart. Gives the tree room to show off its full, dramatic form without crowding.
⚠️ Don't plant Green Giants closer than 5 ft for a hedge. At 3–4 ft spacing they'll look great for a few years, then the lower branches will die from shading and you'll have bare trunks at the bottom.
From the property line: Plant at least 6–8 feet from fences, structures, or property lines to account for mature width.
Emerald Green Arborvitae Spacing
Emerald Green stays narrow — typically 10–15 feet tall and only 3–4 feet wide at maturity. That narrow form is exactly why it's the most popular arborvitae for tight spaces, driveways, and urban lots.
- Privacy hedge: 2–3 ft apart. Creates a tight, formal hedge. Branches touch quickly and the hedge stays dense all the way to the ground.
- Natural hedge: 3–4 ft apart. Slightly more relaxed look, still screens well within 3 years.
- Specimen / accent: 4–5 ft apart. Allows each tree to show its full narrow column form.
✅ Emerald Green is forgiving of tighter spacing because it stays narrow. Unlike Green Giant, you won't get bare bottoms from crowding — the narrow form means each tree gets light even when planted close.
From the property line: You can plant as close as 2–3 feet from a fence or property line since the mature width is only 3–4 feet.
Elegantissima Arborvitae Spacing
Elegantissima is the mid-size option — 12–15 feet tall and 4–6 feet wide. It's columnar like Emerald Green but taller and with that distinctive silvery-gold foliage color.
- Privacy hedge: 3–4 ft apart. Branches interlock within 2–3 years for a solid screen.
- Natural windbreak: 5–6 ft apart. Allows the columnar form to develop fully.
- Specimen: 6–8 ft apart. Shows off the unique foliage color and upright form.
Mixing with other varieties: Elegantissima pairs beautifully with Emerald Green in alternating patterns — the slight color contrast (silvery-gold vs. rich green) creates a layered, textured hedge that's more interesting than a single-variety row.
Golden Globe Arborvitae Spacing
Golden Globe is the dwarf of the group — 3–5 feet tall and 3–5 feet wide, naturally globe-shaped with no pruning needed. It's not a privacy screen plant; it's a landscape accent, border anchor, or low hedge.
- Low border hedge: 3–4 ft apart. Creates a continuous golden border along walkways, driveways, or garden beds.
- Natural grouping: 4–5 ft apart. Allows each globe to maintain its distinct round shape.
- Specimen / container: 5–6 ft apart. Gives full room for the globe form to develop.
💡 Pro tip: Plant Golden Globe in front of a row of Green Giant or Emerald Green for a layered privacy planting — the golden globes at 3–4 feet provide low screening while the tall arborvitae behind them handle the upper privacy.
Spacing by Goal: Which Variety to Choose
| Goal | Best Variety | Spacing |
|---|---|---|
| Fast privacy screen, large property | Green Giant | 5–6 ft |
| Privacy screen, tight space or urban lot | Emerald Green | 2–3 ft |
| Mid-height privacy with color interest | Elegantissima | 3–4 ft |
| Low border or accent planting | Golden Globe | 3–4 ft |
| Layered planting (tall + low) | Green Giant + Golden Globe | 5–6 ft / 3–4 ft |
| Formal driveway or entry | Emerald Green | 3–4 ft |
| Windbreak, rural property | Green Giant | 8–10 ft |
How Many Trees Do You Need?
Once you know your spacing, calculating how many trees to order is simple:
Formula: Linear feet of hedge ÷ spacing (in feet) + 1 = number of trees
- 100 ft of Green Giant hedge at 5 ft spacing: 100 ÷ 5 + 1 = 21 trees
- 50 ft of Emerald Green hedge at 3 ft spacing: 50 ÷ 3 + 1 = 18 trees
- 75 ft of Elegantissima hedge at 4 ft spacing: 75 ÷ 4 + 1 = 20 trees
Common Spacing Mistakes to Avoid
- Planting too close for fast results. It works short-term but causes bare bottoms and tree stress within 5–7 years.
- Ignoring mature width. Green Giant gets 12–20 feet wide. If you plant 3 feet from a fence, you'll be fighting it forever.
- Not accounting for the end trees. Always add 1 to your count — the formula above includes both end trees.
- Mixing varieties without a plan. Different growth rates mean uneven hedges. If you mix Green Giant and Emerald Green, the Green Giants will dominate within a few years.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far apart should I plant arborvitae for a privacy screen?
For Green Giant, plant 5–6 feet apart. For Emerald Green, 2–3 feet apart. For Elegantissima, 3–4 feet apart. These spacings create a solid screen within 2–3 growing seasons.
Can I plant arborvitae 2 feet apart?
For Emerald Green, yes — 2 feet apart will create a very tight, formal hedge and the narrow form handles it well. For Green Giant or Elegantissima, 2 feet is too close and will cause problems within a few years.
How far from a fence should I plant arborvitae?
For Emerald Green: 2–3 feet from the fence. For Green Giant: at least 6–8 feet from the fence to account for its 12–20 foot mature width. For Elegantissima: 3–4 feet minimum.
How long until arborvitae creates privacy?
At recommended spacing, Green Giant creates solid privacy in 2–3 years. Emerald Green takes 3–4 years to fill in completely. Both are significantly faster than most other privacy trees.
Should I stagger arborvitae in two rows?
For maximum density, yes — plant two staggered rows 4–6 feet apart (row to row) with trees offset so they fill in the gaps between each other. This creates a thicker screen faster than a single row.
Ready to Plant?
We grow all four varieties right here at Weaver Family Farms Nursery and ship them ready to plant.
- Green Giant Arborvitae — fastest growing, best for large properties
- Emerald Green Arborvitae — narrow form, best for tight spaces
- Elegantissima Arborvitae — mid-size with unique silvery-gold color
- Golden Globe Arborvitae — dwarf globe, perfect for borders and accents
