Emerald green arborvitae makes a great choice if you are looking for a tight, sleek privacy screen, ... space the trees 2 to 3 feet apart for dense privacy coverage without overcrowding.

Space trees 3 to 4 feet apart. Some cultivars of arborvitae will turn a washed-out brown in winter, though the most ubiquitous ‘Emerald Green’ doesn’t have that characteristic.

A neglected arborvitae can easily become too large for its space, without enough green margin for pruning. In nature, arborvitaes can reach 50 to 70 feet tall and 30 feet wide.

Arborvitae make good evergreen choices in tight areas where fast screening is needed, ... given adequate space. ... (Emerald or Emerald Green).

Emerald Green Arborvitae. Vitali Laurentsik / Getty Images. Emerald green arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd') is known for its bright emerald green foliage that retains its color year-round.

Perhaps the most popular variety is the emerald green arborvitae (T. occidentalis ‘Smargd’). Growing 12 to 15 feet tall, it is a staple screening shrub in many residential landscapes.