no snow load issues on my 50 GG that started as 6 inchers.. and are now 15 - 20 feet tall.. in adrian MI ...

only one has multiple leaders... and it has had no snow issue due to such ... the leaders dont clump together within the canopy.. so they shed snow individually.. unlike the emerald greens ...

no answers on the rest of your ???'s ....

does the 6 in your name.. mean that is your zone???

ken

Ive never heard 'Daniellow' being compared to GG before, ive always considered it similar to ' Smaragd'.
Its a real attractive tree,but could be a problem in an area prone to lots of snow unless the site offers protection.

Al

Yes Ken, Zone 6B. Alley Cat, Smargard looks like a variation of Emerald Green. The foliage seems more open than the EG's I have, if that makes sense.

' Smargard ' is the original and probably more correct name of 'Emerald Green' they are the same tree. Between my brother and i....we grow all three, and i just think without close up details...Daniellow at a glance favors Smargard more than gg's, but the Daniellow is small here.

Al

Roger, If you search this forum type in Thuja plicata ' Daniellow' for a picture.

Thanks alley cat. In your experience, do these have to be constantly trained to maintain a single leader? I have seen conflicting information on their eventual size and growth rate. The one consistent opinion is that they seem to get taller than the EG's.If you are growing them perhaps you can shed some light? Mine is planted 7 feet from the house, facing North west. Is that too close?

I think youve sited it well. Ive hardly seen any with a single leader. My experience is the more you nip at the top the more leaders it will develop.I would just let it fly and see what happens. If snow and winter winds are a concern, buy some plastic landscape chain and collect the interior main stems and bound them together...not gorila tight ...but somewhat snug....do that now, its easier than during a blizzard.
Best of luck

Thanks for the info