Ontario Emerald Cedar buying guide
What Size Emerald Cedar Should I Buy?
Compare 4 foot, 6 foot, and 8 foot Emerald Cedars by initial privacy, time to fill in, installation difficulty, and real NorthCedar pricing. The best size is the one that matches your budget, property access, and privacy timeline.
4 foot
Best for the lowest budget
6 foot
Best balance for most yards
8 foot
Best for immediate height
The quick answer
Six foot Emerald Cedars are the best choice for many yards
A 4 foot cedar is the economical option. It is easier to handle and establish, but it provides the least privacy on planting day. A 6 foot cedar usually reaches eye level immediately and offers the strongest balance between price, handling, and screening. An 8 foot cedar creates the fastest tall screen, but costs considerably more and requires careful professional handling.
Tree height is only part of the privacy decision. Ask about the actual width, branch density, root ball, and recommended centre spacing. A tall narrow tree can still leave obvious gaps, while healthy, well spaced stock can form a better long term hedge.
Side by side comparison
4 foot vs 6 foot vs 8 foot Emerald Cedars
These planning estimates assume healthy nursery stock, correct planting, suitable sunlight and drainage, and consistent first season watering. Weather and site conditions can change growth and establishment time.
| Decision factor | 4 to 5 foot | 6 to 7 foot | 8 to 9 foot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial privacy | Partial screen with visible gaps and sightlines above the trees | Useful eye level screening immediately, with some gaps between trees | Strong immediate height and the most screening on planting day |
| Time to look fuller | Usually about 2 to 4 favourable growing seasons | Often about 1 to 2 favourable growing seasons | Height is immediate; side gaps still depend on width and spacing |
| Installation | Easiest of the three sizes to carry, position, and water | Moderate weight and root ball size; professional planting is helpful | Large, heavy root balls and greater wind exposure; professional installation recommended |
| Tree price | $50 | $85 | $160 |
| Standard planting | $25 | $40 | $80 |
| Tree plus planting | $75 | $125 | $240 |
| Best for | Lowest budget | Most homeowners | Immediate height |
NorthCedar listed prices as of September 29, 2026. Tree prices may vary with availability and season. Prices are in Canadian dollars, before HST, and exclude delivery where applicable, optional warranty, removals, soil work, and unusual access. Check the live pricing page before ordering.
Lowest upfront budget
4 to 5 foot Emerald Cedar
Choose this size when saving money matters more than immediate privacy, you can water consistently, and you are comfortable waiting for the screen to mature.
- Initial privacy
- Partial screen with visible gaps and sightlines above the trees
- Growth timeline
- Usually about 2 to 4 favourable growing seasons
- Installation
- Easiest of the three sizes to carry, position, and water
- Current price
- $50 tree + $25 planting = $75 before HST
Best balance for most yards
6 to 7 foot Emerald Cedar
Choose this size for a strong balance of initial privacy, manageable installation, establishment, and total project cost. It is the best starting point for many Toronto yards.
- Initial privacy
- Useful eye level screening immediately, with some gaps between trees
- Growth timeline
- Often about 1 to 2 favourable growing seasons
- Installation
- Moderate weight and root ball size; professional planting is helpful
- Current price
- $85 tree + $40 planting = $125 before HST
Fastest initial privacy
8 to 9 foot Emerald Cedar
Choose this size when immediate height is worth the premium, access is suitable for large root balls, and professional handling and first season care fit the budget.
- Initial privacy
- Strong immediate height and the most screening on planting day
- Growth timeline
- Height is immediate; side gaps still depend on width and spacing
- Installation
- Large, heavy root balls and greater wind exposure; professional installation recommended
- Current price
- $160 tree + $80 planting = $240 before HST
Project budget examples
How size changes the total hedge cost
The same number of trees can create very different budgets. These totals combine the current listed tree price and standard planting price before HST.
| Project size | 4 to 5 foot | 6 to 7 foot | 8 to 9 foot |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 trees | $750 | $1,250 | $2,400 |
| 20 trees | $1,500 | $2,500 | $4,800 |
| 30 trees | $2,250 | $3,750 | $7,200 |
Delivery, warranty, removals, amendments, disposal, difficult digging, restricted access, and other property specific work are not included.
Best Emerald Cedar size for each budget
Lowest budget: 4 foot
Use the savings to prepare the soil properly and protect the first season watering schedule. Accept that full privacy will take longer.
Best overall value: 6 foot
Pay more than the smallest size for useful eye level screening, while avoiding much of the premium and handling difficulty of 8 foot trees.
Premium privacy: 8 foot
Choose the tallest option when immediate screen height is essential and the site, access, installation team, and aftercare plan can support large stock.
Check these six details before choosing a size
The privacy height you actually need
Measure the fence and the main viewing areas. An 8 foot tree may be unnecessary beside a 6 foot fence, while a 4 foot tree may leave a patio exposed for several seasons.
Tree width and branch density
Compare actual trees, not height labels alone. Width and density strongly affect planting day privacy and final spacing.
Property access
Measure gates, stairs, side passages, and turning space. Large root balls need more people, time, and room to reach the planting line safely.
Soil and drainage
Do not use a larger tree to hide a drainage problem. Correct standing water, compaction, grading, and poor planting soil before installation.
First season watering
Every new cedar needs consistent root zone moisture. Larger stock has a larger root ball and greater canopy demand, so missed watering can become expensive quickly.
The complete project cost
Budget for trees, planting, HST, delivery, optional warranty, removals, soil work, mulch, and any access difficulty instead of comparing tree price alone.
Plan the quantity and spacing
Use the cedar privacy hedge calculator and the Emerald Cedar spacing guide before ordering. Confirm the width of the actual nursery stock before marking the final centres.
Choose the right tree and protect it
Compare Emerald Cedar with other options in our cedar variety guide, then follow the complete cedar watering guide after installation. For a realistic year by year estimate, read our Emerald Cedar growth guide.
Emerald Cedar size FAQ
What size Emerald Cedar is best for most privacy hedges?
Six to seven foot Emerald Cedars are often the best overall choice because they provide useful eye level privacy on planting day while keeping the tree, handling, and planting cost below the eight to nine foot option. The right answer still depends on your fence height, budget, access, tree width, and spacing.
How long will a 4 foot Emerald Cedar take to reach 6 feet?
Under favourable Ontario conditions, a healthy Emerald Cedar may add roughly 6 to 12 inches in a growing season, so moving from about four feet to about six feet can take approximately two to four seasons. Soil, sunlight, moisture, root establishment, weather, and tree quality can make growth slower or faster.
Do 8 foot Emerald Cedars provide instant privacy?
They provide the greatest height immediately, but height alone does not create a solid wall. Tree width, branch density, centre spacing, fence position, and the viewing angle determine whether side gaps remain after planting.
Can I plant 8 foot Emerald Cedars myself?
Large cedars have heavy root balls and can be difficult to move without damaging the roots, trunk, surrounding property, or the people lifting them. Professional installation is strongly recommended when access is narrow, the soil is difficult, or safe lifting equipment and experienced help are unavailable.
Are smaller Emerald Cedars always the better value?
Smaller trees have the lowest purchase and planting cost, but they require patience and reliable care while privacy develops. A six foot cedar can be the better practical value when quicker screening avoids another temporary privacy solution.
How many Emerald Cedars do I need?
Measure the usable hedge length, subtract gates and openings, choose an appropriate centre spacing for the actual tree width, and calculate the quantity. Use NorthCedar’s cedar hedge calculator for an initial estimate, then confirm the layout before ordering.
Get the right size before you order
Send NorthCedar your hedge length, fence height, budget, property location, and clear access photos. We can recommend the most practical tree size, quantity, spacing, preparation, and installation plan for your Toronto or GTA property.