Hedges: Spacing for planting of 5-6' Thuja cedar?

I am replacing an old fence with a cedar hedge. The local hardware depot store has 5-6' Thuja cedars at a fair price. I have been told to plant them at a spacing of 3', 4' and 6' by different people. These are already sometime like 2 feet across in the pot, and I assume it's quite normal to leave space for them to fill-in.

I would need about 26 of them at 4 feet, so spacing makes a appreciable financial difference.

Any advice?

Thanks!
Peter

 

depends what type of Thuja. if it is 'smaragd' or 'brandon' or another columnar type, 24" on center is common practice here.

 

I'll have to check the type.

Wow... they would be almost touching when planted. And the cost would double, well into the 4 digits. Ouch.

 

the farther you plant them apart, the longer it takes till they touch and make a hedge thats all.

 

I see. If that's the only trade-off, then it's not so bad.

It is better to plant 5' cedars at 4 feet spacing and wait a few years until they touch? Or plant 2' cedars at 2 feet spacing (or maybe close enough to touch) and wait a few years until they grow in height? I imagine the cost could end up being about the same. I imagine that the second option end up as a nicer hedge after a longer time?

 

I'm now leaning towards using smaller (cheaper) plants, planted closer together (using more of them). The price will be similar. It will be shorter now, but nicer in the long run (and possibly more resistant to snow).