A Globe Form of the Bulletproof Techny Arborvitae for Minnesota Techny Globe Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'Techny Globe') brings the cold-hardy reputation of 'Techny' into a 3–4 ft rounded globe form. Reliable to -40°F. Holds dense year-round green color without browning — ideal for foundation accents, low hedges, and entry plantings. Techny Globe Arborvitae Plant Details Attribute Detail Scientific Name Thuja occidentalis 'Techny Globe' Common Names Techny Globe Arborvitae Mature Height 3–4 feet Mature Width 3–4 feet Growth Rate Slow — 4–6 inches per year Sun Full sun to part shade Water Moderate. USDA Zones 3–7 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a) Soil Tolerates Minnesota clay-loam. Foliage Evergreen — dense scaled needles, dark green winter color (resists browning) Winter Hardiness Reliable to -40°F. Holds color through Minnesota winter without bronzing. Deer Resistance Protect first 1–2 years — deer browse young arborvitae heavily in winter. Native Status Species native to Minnesota; 'Techny Globe' is a globe selection of the bulletproof 'Techny' parent Techny Globe Arborvitae Uses in Minnesota Landscapes Foundation Accents Techny Globe's tidy 3–4 ft rounded form anchors foundation corners and entry beds. Pairs well with vertical 'Techny' or 'Holmstrup' arborvitae behind it. Low Hedge or Border Plant 3 feet apart for a continuous globe-form low hedge that holds shape with minimal pruning. Excellent edge along walkways and driveways. Best Time to Plant Techny Globe Arborvitae in Minnesota Fall — late August through mid-September — is the ideal planting window for evergreens like Techny Globe Arborvitae. Soil is still warm enough for root development, cool air reduces transplant shock, and the plant gets 6–8 weeks to establish roots before the typical mid-November ground freeze in the Twin Cities. The earlier window matters specifically for evergreens because they continue losing moisture through their needles all winter, so root establishment before freeze is critical. Spring (late April through May, after ground thaw) is the second-best window — you get a full growing season ahead. Avoid summer planting (June–August) when possible; if you must, water heavily and mulch deeply. Never plant after mid-October or before late April, when frozen ground or frost-heaving will kill new roots. How to Plant Techny Globe Arborvitae Dig wide, not deep — 2–3x the root ball width, same depth. In heavy clay, dig even wider (3–4x). Check for clay hardpan — if water pools in the hole, break through the clay layer or mound-plant 2–3 inches above grade to improve drainage. Backfill with native soil mixed with 20–30% compost. Don't fill the hole with pure compost — it creates a "container" effect that traps water around the roots. Spacing — 3 feet apart for continuous low hedge; 4 feet for accent placements. Build a 3–4 inch water basin around the plant to direct water to the roots. Flatten or remove the basin in late October to prevent ice damage over winter. Mulch with 2–3 inches of shredded bark or wood chip mulch, kept 2 inches away from the trunk. Do NOT use gravel mulch — it doesn't insulate roots in Minnesota winters. Watering Techny Globe Arborvitae in Minnesota First Year Watering Schedule Weeks 1–2: Every 1–2 days, deep and slow (15–25 minutes) Month 1–2: Every 3–4 days Month 3–6: Every 5–7 days during active growth; less if rainfall is adequate (Minnesota averages roughly 3 inches/month June–August) Stop watering 2–3 weeks before ground freeze (typically late October in Twin Cities metro). Continued late-fall watering can push tender new growth that gets killed by winter. One deep watering in early December is a good idea for evergreens if fall has been dry — it helps the plant resist winter desiccation. After Year One Established Techny Globe Arborvitae rarely needs supplemental water. Water deeply during droughts (2+ weeks of no rain combined with temps above 80°F). Soak to 6–8 inches depth, every 7–14 days during dry spells. Let natural rainfall do the rest. Drip Irrigation in Minnesota Drip works well for Techny Globe Arborvitae if your beds already have a system. Place emitters 12–18 inches from the trunk. Always blow out lines and shut off the timer by early October — frozen drip lines split. Will Techny Globe survive a Minnesota winter? Yes — rated to USDA zone 3 (-40°F). Holds dark green color through winter without the bronzing common to other arborvitae cultivars. How is it different from Hetz Midget? Hetz Midget is smaller (3 ft max) and slower; Techny Globe reaches 4 ft and grows slightly faster. Both are reliable Minnesota dwarfs. Will deer eat it? Yes, in winter. Protect first-year plants with snow fence or netting. How fast does it grow? Slow — 4–6 inches per year. A 5-gallon plant reaches mature 3–4 ft in 6–8 years. You May Also Like 'Techny' Arborvitae — Vertical 12–15 ft pyramidal parent — pair for layered foundation plantings. Hetz Midget Arborvitae — Smaller dwarf globe for tiered globe compositions. Karl Foerster Grass — Vertical seed heads contrast with Techny Globe's rounded form. Limelight Hydrangea — Lime-white blooms complement dark green Techny Globe foliage. How Many Techny Globe Arborvitae Do I Need? Techny Globe matures to 3–4 ft wide, so space plants about 3 ft on center for a continuous globe-form low hedge, or 4 ft for accents. Run Length Plants Needed (~3 ft spacing) 10 ft 3 20 ft 7 30 ft 10 40 ft 14 As a foundation accent, anchor a corner with one or flank an entry with a pair; a group of 3 makes a rounded evergreen cluster. Techny Globe Arborvitae Season-by-Season in Minnesota Spring: Fresh green growth thickens the dense globe; minimal pruning needed to hold its tidy shape. Summer: Full, rounded deep-green form anchors foundation corners and walkway edges. Fall: Holds dark green as the garden fades, providing reliable evergreen structure. Winter: Keeps its color without the bronzing common to other arborvitae — a clean green globe under snow. At a Glance ✔ Minnesota Native ✔ Evergreen ✔ Four-Season Interest Plant It With Techny Arborvitae — the tall pyramidal parent, for a layered foundation backdrop. Hetz Midget Arborvitae — a smaller dwarf globe for tiered globe compositions. Tater Tot Arborvitae — the tiniest globe, for the front edge of the planting. Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass — vertical seed heads that contrast the rounded form. Is Techny Globe Arborvitae Right for Your Yard? Techny Globe is ideal for foundation accents and low hedges in full sun to part shade, holding dark green color all winter without bronzing and reliable to -40°F. Not a fit if you need quick height or a fast screen — it's slow-growing and stays a compact 3–4 ft globe — or if young plants can't be protected from winter deer browse in an unfenced site.
