Pennsylvania! Partially due to the season and partially due to a new born :) my plan is to water heavily now that it is getting warmer but was nervous the damage might have already been done! New to outdoor plants/trees!!

I don't see anything wrong. The tips get kind of golden in the winter from cold temps. Not because of drought. I have a lot of green giants in Maryland on a south facing hill. I've never watered them. Never lost one either.

Discolored conifers are dead when their foliage feels less supple than when purchased. With dry and crispy being a definite indicator. Otherwise, if you mulched your new trees deeply enough that the sun did not bake the soil around them they would not dry out as readily. And if they were planted with intact potting soil root masses that were not teased open etc. at planting there will be an ongoing problem with the native soil around them attracting water away from the roots of the trees. Until the trees manage to root into this surrounding soil. Meaning that prior to this latter circumstance having occurred you will probably have to water as much as if the trees were still in pots.

I have about 50 of them...and this one is so heavily sheared...I'm not sure it's a GG

can anyone confirm the ID?

LEN

Looks like a GG to me. And the central leader growth rate seems GG'ish too.