how i would deal with that info ... 6 feet is 72 inches... so.. around 7 inches per year ... depending on location.. micro climate ... and once it gets over transplant shock if any ....

as a tree... it will never really stop growing ... in your lifetime.. should it live that long ...

double the estimate for 20 years... etc ...

no idea about deer.. as i cant grow them in my area of cold z5 ... be nice to know where you are .....

ken

Located western NC, elevation 3k feet, zone 6a. I appreciate the comments.

As for deer, my experience is that they will eat anything and it is just a gamble whether they will take a taste or not. I've had them eat and nibble on everything they are said not to eat. They ate my tiny Sciadopitys verticillata 'Picola' and pulled it out of the ground. I have started putting fences around my deer exposed conifers during the winter when they are more likely to eat all the energy rich buds off. The rest of the year I remove the fences, roll the dice, and hope they are too busy eating other things.

Thanks, that's a good plan. We just got 5", I am sure they will be looking for fresh food.