05/12/2026
 Here I removed the previous shrub line and planted seven American pillar arborvitae!!
A few things to consider when choosing your species of arborvitae:
*Species - here we chose the American pillar because it grows up to 30 feet tall, but only 3 to 5 feet wide and maintains its shape hence the pillar name.
Some species like the green giant can grow up to 18 feet wide and 50 feet tall!
Species like the emerald green have great foliage, that deer like to snack on so if you live in an area with high deer traffic, it may be best to choose a more resistant species.
So pick the one that fits your space and needs best!
**Spacing - once you’ve chosen the species that best fits your needs then you can figure out the spacing!  it’s best to follow the recommended spacing but keep in mind. If you want to grow a hedge line you will need to space them closer. For example, you can grow a green giant hedge by spacing them 4 to 5 feet apart or if you space them 12 feet apart they will still grow together in a privacy line but maintain their own shape and you have individual giant trees instead of one shrub line. And if you want space between them, it would be recommended to space them 15 to 25 feet apart.
**Remember to amend the soil  it is best to dig a hole that is twice the size of the root ball of the bush or tree you are planting. Then you can mix half of the soil you removed and half peat moss soil builder or a slightly acidic soil blend. That helps with nutrients and loosening the soil for the roots to dig deeper!
