"none of my local nurserys seem to know nothing about this tree" - ah, so they all know something about it . . . beware the double negative! :-))

"I've heard the faster growing the tree the shorter the life" - doesn't apply to conifers (only to things like willows and poplars). No reason they shouldn't live 200-300 years or more, unless some epidemic disease or pest comes along (always possible with a heavily-planted clone).

"My other concern is ice and snow spliting the tree" - as long as you don't cut the tops off and then leave them to grow multiple new tops (very liable to split apart in snow), you should be OK. If any develop twin stems, prune the second leader off so it has just one leader again.

Resin

Thanks for the info. DO you feel the Thuja Green Giant is today's best option for a fast growing natural screen?

Is it safe to plant yet this fall or should I wait for spring?

I wonder where this myth about fast growing trees not being long-lived started. It is completely false. First, the giant sequoia, which is just about as long-lived as any tree (yes, I know about bristlecone pines, etc.) is the fastest growing tree in its natural range. Next, the coast redwood of California lives for over 2,000 years and is one of the fastest growing trees anywhere.

And these trees are not exceptions. One of the longest lived hardwoods in the eastern U. S. is the sycamore (600 plus years), and it is also one of the fastest growing. I could go on and on, but maybe I have made my point! Good grief! Where do these silly ideas start??

As for green giants, one of the parents is Thuja plicata, and that is very long lived (as well as very fast growing)--maybe 1,000 years. I would suspect that green giants may well be very long lived, but since it is a rather recently developed hybrid, no one really knows.

--Spruce

fast growing short lived plants? willow, poplar, silver maple, mulberry, sumac, or as ken would call weeds.

Green Giant may turn ugly during the winter, i suppose that would be it's drawback

I'm sure a web search would determine its winter green and I can't say I know off hand, good point noki. I do know however that Thuja plicata 'Excelsa' grows great here in the midwest and is a beautiful dark green in winter.

Bickelhaupt Arboretum in Clinton, IA - which they consider themselves to be zone 4 has amazing specimens of these clones and I've been there in the middle during harsh winter conditions.

Just an option..

Dax