Choose Brandon Arborvitae if you need a tall, narrow evergreen screen in a cold, windy spot. Its main strength is winter color hold; the tradeoff is that deer can browse it, so exposed rural yards need protection.
Buy This If
Winter burn worries you
You need upright privacy
Your site gets wind
Skip This If
Deer feed there often
You want fast width
The soil dries hard
PGNE Report Card
Category
Grade
Why
Landscape Impact
B+
It gives a clean upright evergreen look without taking over a bed.
Growth Rate
B
It fills in steadily, but it is not the quickest privacy option.
Maintenance
B
Light shaping and watering during establishment are usually enough, but dry spells matter.
Deer Resistance
C-
This is a Thuja occidentalis type, so browsing protection is smart where deer traffic is regular.
Small Space Fit
B+
Its narrow habit works well along property lines when allowed room to mature.
Screening Value
A-
Dense branching makes a strong privacy screen once the row has filled in.
Wet Site Tolerance
A-
Northern white cedar is a wetland species by nature, so it handles a damp or seasonally wet screening line better than nearly any other evergreen.
Our Experience
At PGNE, we'd typically recommend Brandon for colder, windier screening jobs where Emerald types worry you, but not for properties with regular deer traffic unless you are ready to protect the row. Its cold hardiness to zone 2b makes it our pick for the most exposed northern sites.
FACW (Facultative Wetland) for the species Thuja occidentalis — usually occurs in wetlands. Source: USDA/USACE National Wetland Plant List, Northcentral & Northeast region.
Customers Usually Ask
Will it brown in winter?
It was selected for better winter color than many arborvitae, but watering before freeze-up still matters.
Will it handle a wet spot?
Better than most evergreens. Northern white cedar is rated FACW and dominates cedar swamps in the wild, so it tolerates a high water table and seasonally soggy ground. It will not take stagnant water in compacted clay, and it is genuinely drought-sensitive.
Can I plant it as a hedge?
Yes, it suits a narrow, upright privacy row better than a loose mixed border.
Do deer eat it?
They can, especially in winter, so protect it in active deer areas.
Why Choose Arborvitaes for Privacy & Year-Round Coverage?
Arborvitaes are the gold standard for privacy screens and evergreen structure in New England landscapes. Known for their dense foliage, year-round color, and cold hardiness, these fast-growing evergreens create natural boundaries, wind protection.
Fast, Dense Privacy: Quick-growing varieties fill in efficiently to create natural screening from neighbors or roads.
Year-Round Evergreen Color: Maintain consistent greenery through winter when other plants go dormant.
Cold Hardy & Reliable: Built to withstand northern climates, arborvitaes provide dependable long-term structure.
Why Choose Pro Growers of New England for Arborvitaes?
At Pro Growers of New England, our arborvitaes are grown and maintained locally for real New England conditions — not boxed up and shipped across the country. Every plant is carefully selected, properly spaced, and allowed to develop strong root systems before ever leaving the nursery.
Unlike large online sellers, you’re welcome to visit our nursery in person, walk the rows, inspect the exact plants available, and see firsthand how they’re grown. That means no surprises, no guessing, and no damaged plants from long-distance transit.
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Installation Service ($25)
Growzone Finder
It helps us recommend plants that are best for your local climate, based on your growing zone. Also, because we ship plants based on when they are best for your local climate, it allows us to give you a more accurate estimate of when your order will ship.
I had a great experience with Pro Growers of New England. When I was looking to purchase a couple of trees for my yard, I came across them while searching for places nearby. Buying plants online can be a little intimidating because there are so many variables, but they were only about 10 minutes away, so I decided to stop by.
All of the plants were really well cared for, they had a great irrigation setup to keep everything watered, and the selection was enormous. I ended up placing an order online, and they picked out a couple of beautiful trees for me. I had a last-minute change in the tree I wanted, and when I called they were very accommodating.
The staff was friendly and helpful throughout the whole process. They helped me find everything I needed, answered my questions, and made the entire experience easy. I also had one tricky planting location with a big rock and a tough invasive vine, but they made it work and planted everything perfectly.
I wasn’t sure at first if I should have the trees professionally installed, but I’m so glad I did. They did an excellent job, and the whole experience was easy from start to finish. Thanks so much for the beautiful plants and the great service!
