Thanks for te question. Emerald Green Arborvitae is a drought tolerant evergreen shrub that can grow up to 15 feet tall by 4 feet wide. It grows best in full sun (more than six hours of direct sun a day). From you picture of your house this seems to be true unless it is on the north side. The Emerald Green Arborvitae will grow 1 to 2 feet per year after the first year and then 6 to 9 inches per year as it matures. The first year, expect little growth as the roots are getting established. When planting your hedge allow the shrub room to grow.

It is hard keeping the shrub less than 6 feet tall and should be pruned lightly in the spring. Unless you want a tall hedge, you will need to prune each year to keep the hedge at the height you want.

The Emerald Green Arborvitae tolerates a variety of soils including clay but requires a well-drained soil. Waterlogged soil and/or overwatering is the main cause of the death of these arborvitaes due to root rot.

I know you want plant your shrubs now, but it would be best to wait until September to plant to avoid the heat. If planted in the fall the roots still have time to grow before winter and not be stressed. Tree roots grow the most in the spring and again during the fall. During the summer, trees put most of their energy into photosynthesis, rather than growing roots.

To plant the shrub, remove shrub from the container, exam the root mass and loosen the root ball so that the roots ae encircling the root ball but are directed outward.

Plant the root ball in a hole twice as wide and as deep as the root ball. Keep the top edge of the root ball level with the surface or even a little above (1 inch). The hole should not be deeper than the root ball. A common mistake is that people dig the hole too deep and after planting the soil settles. Also, the bottom of the whole should be rough and not smooth.

As mentioned earlier arborvitaes prefer well-drained soils. To improve drainage, mix compost or pine bark with the clay soil. Most top soils such as Scott’s Garden Soil sold at garden centers are actually compost or pine bark mixtures

Fill in the soil around the root ball. When you are halfway done, water thoroughly. Finish filling the hole and pack it down with your hands. Water thoroughly from the surface level.

Add up to two inches of mulch to the surface. Do not allow the mulch to touch the stem. This helps conserve soil moisture and control weeds.

If you do plant the shrubs this summer, you will likely need to water. To prevent the sudden death of your arborvitae, it is important to ensure proper drainage in the planting area. If the soil is heavy or compacted, consider amending it with organic matter such as compost to improve drainage. Avoid overwatering by checking the moisture level of the soil before watering and adjusting your watering schedule accordingly. It is also a good idea to avoid overhead watering, as this can promote the spread of diseases. I hope this answers your question. Let me know if there is any thing else

See Illinois Extension’s Tree Shrub fact sheet at: https://exte

nsion.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/info_sheet_tree_planting.pdf