Full Screen (click "Full Screen' link to enlarge picture). We grow plants to sell at our plant sale. My comments under the picture.
If the picture doesn't open go to flowers.yonatan.us/arborbuy.htm
Arborvitae are the chosen food for deer. If you plan on planting arborvitae as a privacy barrier in an area where there are deer either fence them in or plan on losing the foliage in the lower five feet.
Above is a picture of arborvitae that are individually surrounded with fencing in order to provide food for wildlife. As the foliage grows out through the fence the deer prune it off.
Another way would be to plant the arborvitae in a trench 2 feet apart. Then build two fences in a lean to fashion that form an A frame over the top of them. The fencing should be stiff or the deer will just push it closer and eat all they want anyway. The openings in the fence should be large enough so you can easily reach in with your hand to weed or trim. Below are the two Arbs we have grown in the past.
EMERALD GREEN ARBORVITAE zone 3, 20 feet tall x 5 feet wide in 20 years, in nature its usually a twisted and contorted shrub that is somewhat prostrate with foliage removed in the bottom 5 feet (neat plant but hard to create in your garden), full sun,
SHERWOOD FROST ARBORVITAE Thuja occidentalis 'Sherwood Frost', 6 to 8 feet tall and hardy to zone 4, creamy variegated foliage, vigorous and fast growing, terrific hedge when protected from deer - in nature its usually a twisted and contorted shrub that is somewhat prostrate with foliage removed in the bottom 5 feet (neat plant but hard to create in your garden), full sun,