We've grown emerald ceders in our Edmonton garden, and we don't find them reliably hardy. I'm not a big fan of ceders in zone 3 or colder regions. If you get a bad winter, they seem to dry out and yellow and then eventually die. You could try putting them in a protected site away from drying winter winds and apply a desication spray. Also water them well in the fall before winter arrives and/or wrap some burlap around them in exposed locations. I have tryied some of the upright blue junipers as an alternative and they are fully hardy. Try skyrocket or blue arrow. Our skyrocket is in an exposed windy location and they have not died or dryed out, I just water it occasionally during dry spells.

Thank you for the advice on the blue arrow junipers. While driving around my mom's neighborhood we saw lots of cedars(I don't know which varieties) but maybe since she gets lots of snow and no chinook winds they may survive better. It took a long time to plant them all so I'm hoping they make it otherwise I'm out 25 dollars.

Your welcome. From what I've read, ceders naturally grow in wet moist soil with good drainage and in high humidity. That's why ceders do well in the lower mainland of BC. On the Prairies you get long, cold, windy winters followed by short, dry hot summers. I've seen lots of ceders around Edmonton, but I'm just not sold on them.