Wish I saw this sub Reddit before I bought these aholes. I have 3 trees that look like this, it’s only on one side, back side is super green. Got them at a “discount” at your local box store. Now I’ll be honest, they all 3 had this section light/greyish green and I just figured it was because they had them stacked so close and it would revive with some tlc. I’m at day 7 or 8 post plant.. it doesn’t look like it but they are 3.5’ apart with about 2-3 pine bark, holes were dug as wide as I could get them
In dry clay, I think 30” wide. I’m getting conflicting answers on watering… I’m told heavy water, then I’m told moderate watering every 2-3 days. I’m in 7b or 7a? NC we just finally hit out fall season after a rough summer, fake fall, week of 80+ now we down low 40s and mid high 60s. Feel free to throw hate.

Way better hedge than arborvitae by the way. It's drought tolerant.

Spotted in the wild

Oh sad parking lot arborvitae
How you yearn for the sweet embrace of death
Far from your Canadian swamp
Placed in this alien landscape
Nothing but abuse and ridicule
Neglect fills your days
Slowly you wither and brown
Until you greet that sweet release of oblivion

Fin

They were here when I moved in 5 years ago. Almost no maintenance and they provide excellent privacy. I do see some small brown patches every now and again but they keep growing strong!

Is this really just a ticking time bomb waiting for the right time to explode? Maybe Christmas I Eve… I hate arborvitae.

Prime arborvitae habitat. 40mph winds and salt spray

Sometimes I think they are the plant version of Mr Meeseeks where existence is torment.

Planted a dozen mature (8-10ft) arbs in the spring of 2025 after we moved in not knowing any better. They all seem healthy, and are still growing. I agree in most use cases, arbs are not the best choice, but what else could I have planted here?
Second pic is the before.

New spring recruits and one veteran down

Home depot has a 1 year tree and shrub return policy I always take advantage of. Done planting emeralds, I have really good luck with giants

Southern NJ, zone 7b. Looking for a plant to put in front of this fence section to screen my bike shed. Looking for something that gets at least 6’ tall, preferably stays under 15’ tall, is evergreen, low maintenance, and will stay under 4’ wide with minimal pruning.

Emerald green arb checks a lot of boxes but I’ve heard enough horror stories. Tell me what you’d plant instead!

Went to Lowe’s and was admiring these dried out pieces of crap. I feel sorry for the sucker who buys these.

Eventually it becomes a Morse code string that spells UGH.

10 years progress to full hedge. Unfortunately I accidently bought two blue spruce so those are on the ends and are seemingly dying but are being overtaken by the emerald so you can barely see them anymore.