A Classic Broad Pyramidal Arborvitae for Minnesota Privacy Screens Techny Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'Techny'), also sold as Mission Arborvitae, is one of the most dependable privacy evergreens for the upper Midwest. It forms a dense, broad pyramid 12-15 feet tall and 6-8 feet wide, holding rich dark green color straight through Minnesota winters. Selected at a Wisconsin monastery for cold-country toughness, it shrugs off wind, snow load, and temperatures to -40F. Techny Arborvitae Plant Details Attribute Detail Scientific Name Thuja occidentalis 'Techny' Common Names Techny Arborvitae, Mission Arborvitae Mature Height 12-15 feet Mature Width 6-8 feet Growth Rate Moderate - 12-18 inches per year Sun Full sun to part shade (4+ hours) Water Moderate; water deeply through the first two seasons. USDA Zones 3-7 (Twin Cities is zone 4b-5a) Soil Adaptable; tolerates Minnesota clay-loam. Foliage Evergreen - flat scaled sprays, deep green winter color Winter Hardiness Reliable to -40F. Deer Resistance Low - deer browse arborvitae; protect with fencing or repellent the first 2-3 winters. Native Status Species native to Minnesota; 'Techny' is a cultivated selection Techny Arborvitae Uses in Minnesota Landscapes Tough Privacy Screens and Windbreaks Techny is the workhorse arborvitae for hard sites. Broad and dense at 6 to 8 feet wide and 12 to 15 feet tall, it forms a thick, full screen and is renowned for shrugging off cold and wind that thin out lesser varieties. Planted 4 to 5 feet apart it makes a solid privacy wall or windbreak — a great choice for exposed back lines and open lots in Maple Grove, Woodbury, and Lakeville. Note for western suburbs: deer browse arborvitae heavily, so see the deer note below. Property Lines and Accent Rows Its fuller, pyramidal form gives a more substantial screen than the narrow uprights — ideal where you have room and want real mass to block views and noise along a property line in Eden Prairie or St. Paul. A single row reads as a green wall; a staggered double row makes an even denser windbreak. Bulletproof Hardiness and Winter Color Originally selected at a Wisconsin monastery (its other name is Mission Arborvitae), Techny was bred for the Upper Midwest and is among the most cold- and wind-tough arborvitae you can plant. It also holds a deep green through winter rather than bronzing, so an exposed screen still looks lush in February when others have gone dull. Best Time to Plant Techny Arborvitae in Minnesota As an evergreen, Techny establishes best when planted in late August through mid-September. The soil is still warm enough to drive root growth, while cooler air eases transplant stress and gives the plant six to eight weeks to settle in before the ground freezes around mid-November. Spring (late April through May) is the solid second choice, leaving a full season to root before the first winter. Avoid the heat of midsummer, and never plant after mid-October — evergreens set out too late are prone to winter desiccation before their roots can support them. How to Plant Techny Arborvitae Dig wide, not deep. Make the hole 2 to 3 times the width of the root ball but no deeper — the top of the root ball should sit slightly above grade. In heavy clay, go even wider. Mind the moisture. Arborvitae like consistent moisture, so a spot that doesn't bake dry is ideal — but avoid standing water; if drainage is poor, mound-plant a few inches high. Backfill with amended soil. Mix your native soil with 20 to 30 percent compost to hold moisture and loosen heavy clay; this species rewards a richer backfill than junipers do. Space for the use. Set plants 4 to 5 feet apart for a privacy screen, or 6 to 8 feet apart in a staggered double row for a windbreak. Build a water basin. Form a 3 to 4 inch soil ring around the base to channel water to the roots. Flatten it before winter so ice doesn't collect against the trunk. Mulch with bark. Spread 2 to 3 inches of shredded bark or wood chips, kept 2 inches off the trunk, to lock in the moisture arborvitae crave. Skip gravel mulch — it bakes roots and gives no winter insulation. Watering Techny Arborvitae in Minnesota First Year Watering Schedule Weeks 1–2: Deep soak every 1 to 2 days (15–25 minutes at a slow trickle). Month 1–2: Every 2 to 3 days — arborvitae need more consistent moisture than junipers. Month 3–6: Every 4 to 6 days during active growth; don't let the root zone dry out. Stop watering 2 to 3 weeks before the ground freezes (late October in the metro) — then give one last deep soak in early December, especially if fall was dry, to limit winter burn. After Year One Water deeply through the first two seasons while the plant establishes. After that, Techny needs supplemental water mainly during dry spells — a deep soak every 7 to 10 days when there's been two-plus weeks without rain. It is less drought-tolerant than juniper or spruce, so don't let it bake, and always finish with that early-December deep watering before freeze. Will Techny Arborvitae survive a Minnesota winter? About as well as any arborvitae can — it's hardy to roughly -40°F (USDA zone 3) and was specifically selected in the Upper Midwest for cold and wind toughness, holding deep green color through the season. Brush heavy snow off the branches so the broad form doesn't break, and give a deep December watering; beyond that, Techny is one of the lowest-worry evergreen screens for a harsh site. Is it deer-resistant? No — deer favor arborvitae as a winter food and will browse Techny up to about five feet, especially in high-pressure western suburbs like Minnetonka, Wayzata, and Chanhassen. Plan to protect young plants: a winter repellent rotated through the season, burlap or netting wraps, or fencing. Where deer pressure is severe and a long screen can't be protected, a spruce or juniper windbreak is the more deer-proof choice. How is it different from Emerald Green? Both hold green through winter, but Techny is broader and fuller (6 to 8 feet wide versus 3 to 4) and is prized for extra cold- and wind-hardiness, making it the pick for exposed, open sites and substantial windbreaks. Emerald Green is narrower and more uniform — better where you want a tidy, formal hedge in a tighter space. You May Also Like Emerald Green Arborvitae — a narrower, more formal arborvitae for tidy privacy hedges in tighter spaces. Hetz Wintergreen Arborvitae — a taller, faster screen for blocking second-story views. American Arborvitae (White Cedar) — the big Minnesota-native species for tall screens and wet sites. Moffat Blue Juniper — a deer-resistant blue evergreen alternative for screens in high deer-pressure yards. How Many Techny Arborvitae Do I Need? For a solid privacy screen, plant Techny 4–5 feet on center; for a staggered double-row windbreak, space rows 6–8 feet apart: Screen Length Plants Needed (≈4.5 ft spacing) 10 feet 3 plants 20 feet 5 plants 30 feet 8 plants 40 feet 10 plants Remember it matures 6–8 feet wide — keep the row at least 4–5 feet off the property line so the screen stays on your side. Techny Arborvitae Season-by-Season in Minnesota Spring: Bright new growth tips every flat spray as the plant adds its 12–18 inches for the year. Summer: The broad pyramid is dense and dark green top to bottom, blocking views and softening road noise. Fall: Foliage stays full while the rest of the yard drops — the moment a Techny screen earns its keep. Winter: Famously holds deep green without bronzing through -40°F wind and cold; just brush off heavy, wet snow so branches don't splay. At a Glance ✔ Minnesota Native ✔ Shade-Tolerant ✔ Evergreen ✔ Four-Season Interest Plant It With Emerald Green Arborvitae — the narrower formal cousin for tighter sections of the same property line. Hetz Wintergreen Arborvitae — taller and faster where you need to block a second-story view. American Arborvitae (White Cedar) — the full-size native species for big screens and damper ground. Moffat Blue Juniper — a deer-resistant blue alternative for the most exposed, browsed stretches. Is Techny Arborvitae Right for Your Yard? Choose it if you have an exposed, windy site and 6–8 feet of width to give a screen — it's the cold-country workhorse, holding deep green all winter where lesser arborvitae bronze and burn. Not a fit if deer pressure is heavy and you can't protect a long run, or if your strip is under 5 feet wide — go juniper for deer country or a narrow upright like Tall Guy for tight spaces.
