Arborvitae

[UMC]

I'm thinking of putting a couple shrubs in a corner of my back yard that is open to the street in front of the house for a little privacy barrier. I like the look of arborvitae, maybe thinking the "global" variety as it doesn't get real tall and grows wide. The area has decent sunlight but not full and I've read that these generally like sun. Any advice or other options would be great.

[paceman]

Those are good plants that should grow fine in your yard. Ive seen them placed pretty much everywhere and they seem to be doing very well... Also note that deer really like them as well so if your in an area that has deer you will probably have to find a way to fend them off, fence, spray...

[lindy rig]

The global type (wide ones) should do fine. I know I put up some of the skinnier ones (Emerald Green) that you have to be careful with snow load bending and breaking branches. I used twine to wrap around and keep the shape but I've seen some that are really mangled.

[jentz]

I planted a barrior from the dirt road to the house for dust control,They work great and 1/2 are shaded for 1/2 the day,They are abit behind the full son plantings.As above deer love them! Every spring from ground level to 6 ft up they are eaten bare!They provide no dust control.I have now gone to Hazelnut bushes,The critters eat the nuts but no leaves or branches.

[UMC]

No deer here, thanks for the input.

[CarpinMNRiver]

I would stay away from Emerald Green. They burn easy and are not hardy in MN. Most nurseries do not carry them for this reason.