Italian Cypress vs. Thuja Green Giant for Zone 5 Privacy

Zone 5, clay soil, 108x37 ft yard. Wants Italian cypress for narrow privacy hedge. Asks about disease, clay tolerance, grass compatibility.

Italian Cypress Pros/Cons

• Narrow (3-5 ft), plant 3 ft apart for hedge.
• Tolerates clay, drought-tolerant.
• Risks: bagworms, mites, cypress canker (fungal, wind-spread, fatal).
• Canker worse on stressed plants—mulch, water, avoid heavy fert/pruning.

Better Alternative: Thuja Green Giant

• 3-5 ft/year growth, 50+ ft tall, narrow.
• Zones 5-8, adapts to wet clay.
• No significant pests/diseases.
• Deer/bagworm resistant, hardy to -25°F.
• Plant 5-6 ft apart for fast screen.
• Mulch (pine straw) to suppress grass competition.

Planting

Hole 2x rootball, backfill topsoil, mulch 3", water.