Waiting years for a privacy screen to fill in is the single most frustrating part of landscaping. You want a living wall that blocks the neighbor’s view, dampens road noise, and adds market value — and you want it *now*. The right conifer selection changes the timeline from a decade to just a few growing seasons.
I’m Mohammad Maruf — the founder and writer behind Gardening Beyond. I spend my time digging through horticultural trials, comparing soil chemistry data, and studying aggregated owner feedback to find which conifer varieties actually deliver on their growth promises.
I’ve broken down five top options by growth rate, hardiness, and installation ease so you can confidently pick the right best fast growing evergreen conifers for your property. Every recommendation here is backed by real buyer experience and agronomic data.
How To Choose The Best Fast Growing Evergreen Conifers
Selecting the right conifer isn’t just about picking the tallest starter at the nursery. The real driver is a combination of species genetics, site preparation, and ongoing nutrition. Skip any of the three, and your “fast grower” will behave like a slow one.
Growth Rate vs. Mature Size
Thuja Green Giant can push 3 to 4 feet annually once established, but it also tops out at 40 feet tall and 15 feet wide. That’s overkill for a small city lot. Meanwhile, Emerald Green Arborvitae grows about 1 to 2 feet per year and caps at 14 feet — a better fit for tight hedges. Always match the variety’s final dimensions to your available width.
Soil Chemistry & Fertilizer Timing
Conifers prefer slightly acidic soil (pH 5.5–6.5). A granular fertilizer like a 4-3-4 NPK formula with 5% sulfur supplies the micronutrients evergreens crave. Apply in early spring and again in late fall — never in midsummer when heat stresses the roots. Organic blends with Bio-tone reduce the risk of burning young root systems.
Spacing For A Solid Screen
Space Thuja Green Giant 6 to 7 feet apart if you want a quick hedge that won’t crowd itself out in year five. Closer spacing (4 to 5 feet) works for smaller varieties like Emerald Green Arborvitae but requires annual shearing to keep the lower branches from thinning due to light competition.
Quick Comparison
On smaller screens, swipe sideways to see the full table.
| Model | Category | Best For | Key Spec | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thuja Green Giant (15-pack) | Premium Bulk | Large privacy screens | Mature height 30–50 ft | Amazon |
| Perfect Plants Emerald Green Arborvitae | Mid-Range | Small property hedges | Max height 14 ft | Amazon |
| Thuja Green Giant (3-pack) | Entry-Level | Testing the variety | 3 live starter plants | Amazon |
| 10 Thuja Green Giant Arborvitae | Budget Bulk | Windbreak on a budget | Grows 3 ft/year | Amazon |
| Espoma Organic Evergreen-Tone | Supplement | Boosting growth nutrition | 4-3-4 NPK, 5% Sulfur | Amazon |
In‑Depth Reviews
1. Thuja Green Giant Arborvitae Tree, Lot of 15, 3 Inch Pot
This 15-pack from Sandys Nursery Online ships each starter in a 3-inch deep pot standing 10–14 inches tall, with soil intact and roots well developed. Buyers consistently report plants arriving green, moist, and individually bagged — a packing approach that minimizes transplant shock. The variety’s max genetic potential of 50 feet makes it the top choice for landowners who need a serious windbreak or visual barrier that won’t stop growing after a few years.
Owner feedback over an 8-year span shows 85–90% survival rates with drip irrigation; survivors routinely hit 7 feet tall by year seven. Growth accelerates after the first season — expect 2–3 feet annually once the root system is established. The package also includes a bonus August Beauty Gardenia starter, a thoughtful addition for anyone who wants a flowering accent at the base of their hedge.
One limitation: Arizona is excluded from shipping due to agricultural restrictions. The recommended spacing is 4–8 feet apart, while 5-foot spacing is ideal for a privacy screen. For the price per plant, this is the most efficient way to cover a long property line with a proven fast-growing conifer that has decades of real-world validation.
What works
- Impressive survival rate over long-term owner reports
- Well-developed root system in individual 3-inch pots
What doesn’t
- Does not ship to Arizona
- No grow guide for the included Gardenia bonus plant
2. Perfect Plants Emerald Green Arborvitae in 1 Gal. Grower’s Pot
Emerald Green Arborvitae earned its reputation as a premier privacy hedge for small to medium lots. This Perfect Plants specimen arrives in a full 1-gallon grower’s pot with moist soil and minimal browning — buyers consistently compliment the packaging for preventing transplant shock. The variety’s columnar form (14 feet tall by 4 feet wide) means you can plant it closer to the house than a Thuja Green Giant without risking foundation issues or excessive shade.
Cold hardiness down to zone 2 sets this arborvitae apart. It holds its emerald green color through winter and summer without the bronze tint that some evergreens develop. Deer resistance and drought tolerance once established reduce the maintenance burden. Most users report plants arriving at roughly 2 feet tall, exceeding the expected 1.5 feet, which gives a head start on the first growing season.
The only downside reported is a rare packaging mishap where a bag of fertilizer was shipped instead of the plant itself — an exception rather than a pattern. For anyone looking for a low-maintenance, fast-growing conifer that stays manageable in size, this is the most reliable option in the mid-range tier.
What works
- Excellent cold tolerance down to USDA zone 2
- Compact columnar shape perfect for tight hedges
What doesn’t
- Occasional order fulfillment issues reported
- Slower growth rate than Thuja Green Giant
3. Thuja Green Giant | 3 Live Plants | Thuja standishii x plicata
If you’re hesitant to commit to a bulk order before seeing how Thuja Green Giant performs on your specific soil, this 3-pack from Florida Foliage is the ideal trial size. Each plant ships as a live starter with minimal foliage mass, but the genetics are exactly the same as the larger 15-pack — these are not second-tier seedlings. The variety handles full sun to partial shade and tolerates a wide range of soil types, making it one of the most adaptable fast-growing conifers on the market.
Buyer experiences vary with shipping conditions. Some received healthy plants that thrived after up-potting into 4-inch containers and overwintering under grow lights. Others reported losses due to heat during summer transit, especially when shipments were rerouted. Ordering in spring or fall significantly improves survival odds. Once planted, about half of the specimens grew over 1 foot in four months with consistent drip irrigation.
The primary complaint is size — these are small starters, roughly 5–8 inches tall, not the knee-high plants some expect. But for the price per plant, you’re paying for genetics and root development, not top growth. If you have irrigation and patience for the first season, this pack proves whether the Green Giant is right for you before scaling up.
What works
- Low-risk way to test the variety on your property
- Adaptable to full sun, partial shade, and various soil types
What doesn’t
- Small starter size surprises some buyers
- Heat damage during summer shipping is a risk
4. 10 Thuja Green Giant Arborvitae 7-10 inches Tall Trees
At roughly per starter, this 10-count pack from Panter Nursery is the most cost-effective entry point for mass planting a windbreak or security screen. The trees ship bare-root or potted, standing 7–10 inches tall, and are rated for zones 5–9. The official growth claim of 3 feet per year aligns with real owner experiences — one buyer in northern Missouri reported that his trees doubled in size during the first year, surviving a hard winter with regular watering and occasional fertilizing.
The key to success with this pack is intensive first-season care. Buyers who gave each tree a bucket-drip irrigation 2–3 times per week and fenced them against deer saw strong establishment. Those who planted and walked away experienced losses. The provided spacing advice of 6–7 feet apart is correct for a quick screen; tighter spacing increases early density but requires thinning later as the canopy closes in.
The shipping guarantee is limited to a 5-day window, and plants shipped outside the recommended zone aren’t covered. One buyer noted normal winter browning can be mistaken for distress — orange or tan foliage combined with a flat, limp texture is the real warning sign. This pack delivers excellent bang for the buck if you’re prepared to provide consistent moisture and basic protection during the vulnerable first year.
What works
- Unbeatable per-plant cost for bulk screening
- Proven 3 ft/year growth with proper care
What doesn’t
- Difficult for beginners with no irrigation setup
- Deer damage likely without fencing
5. Espoma Organic Evergreen-Tone 4-3-4 Natural & Organic Fertilizer
Even the fastest genetics won’t reach their potential without the right nutrition. Espoma’s Evergreen-Tone is a granular 4-3-4 NPK formula with 5% sulfur and their proprietary Bio-tone microbe blend. It’s designed for all needle-leaf and broadleaf evergreens — pine, fir, spruce, juniper, plus acid-loving broadleafs like azaleas and rhododendrons. The 18-pound bag covers a meaningful area for both planting-time incorporation and maintenance feeding.
Organic certification matters here: no sludges, no synthetic burn risk, and approval for organic production systems. Multiple long-term users report that trees treated with this fertilizer show richer color and visibly denser new growth within two to three weeks of spring application. The barnyard aroma (from chicken manure) is strong during application but fades within a day. Apply twice per year — early spring once the ground thaws, and late fall after the first hard frost.
The biggest oversight is the lack of a clear square-footage coverage chart on the bag. Buyers have to estimate based on tree size and spacing. That said, this isn’t a plant, it’s a supplement — and for anyone growing any of the conifers on this list, pairing them with Evergreen-Tone is the single highest-leverage step you can take to accelerate growth. You can’t outrun bad soil, but this fertilizer gets you close.
What works
- Visible greening and denser growth within weeks
- Organic formula safe for young root systems
What doesn’t
- No exact coverage guide on the label
- Strong manure odor during application
Hardware & Specs Guide
NPK Ratio & Sulfur Content
Conifers need a low-phosphorus, high-nitrogen mix for rapid vertical growth. A 4-3-4 ratio with added sulfur (5%) lowers soil pH, making micronutrients like iron and manganese more available. Evergreens show nitrogen deficiency as yellowing older needles — the 4% nitrogen in Espoma’s formula prevents that and drives the deep green color buyers associate with healthy trees.
Spacing & Mature Dimensions
Thuja Green Giant needs 6-8 feet between plants for a full screen; closer spacing creates competition that stunts lower branches. Emerald Green Arborvitae can be planted 3-4 feet apart due to its narrower columnar habit. Always account for the mature width — planting a 15-foot-wide tree 5 feet from a fence guarantees future trimming headaches and potential property damage.
FAQ
How fast do Thuja Green Giants really grow each year?
Can I plant Emerald Green Arborvitae in zone 7 summer heat?
What is the best fertilizer for fast growing evergreen conifers?
Do these conifers lose their leaves in winter?
Final Thoughts: The Verdict
For most gardeners, the best fast growing evergreen conifers winner is the Thuja Green Giant 15-pack because it delivers the highest growth rate per dollar, proven long-term survival, and enough plants to build a serious privacy screen in a single season. If you need a compact hedge for a small lot, grab the Perfect Plants Emerald Green Arborvitae. And for boosting growth on any conifer you plant, nothing beats the Espoma Organic Evergreen-Tone.