My friend was all happy in June of 2014 when he told me that he had just purchased and planted 40 "of these new type of hybrid shrub that is gonna grow 5' a yr". I asked if they were Green giants and he being a college educated genius was stunned that this dumb ol fool had even had heard of them. I congratulated him and said I hoped for his sake that they did as well as advertised. Stopped by his place on my way to Fl in early Oct. In two summers they had grown about a foot. I'm not tryin ta be negative here. Fact is my DA friend didn't prep the soil at all. just dug small holes and stomped them down in. No mulch, no grass/weed removal around them, hasn't fed or watered them at all. My point is, just as if ya put some of Cecils prime YP in your pond, didn't aerate or feed , ya wouldn't get the results he does.
Bill, they are well suited for growing in 4+5. Deer like em, they are as Essup stated, prone to branch and even trunk damage during heavy snows and ice. They don't have extensive root systems.
I spent a good amount of money to plant some nice 40" Japanese Yews to find out after they died that they shouldn't be shipped bare root after they reach 34-36". I contacted the seller and he said "you must have screwed up cause I ship them all over the USA and you're the first to have had a problem". He was correct because I bought them from him. Also I often figure out what not to do after I've done it. The next yr I spent good money to put in many very nice White pines. That yr we had heavy snow that stayed for a long period of time. When I returned from Fl in April, I discovered that the deer figured they were for them to eat. Consequently they turned my 2' trees into 1' bushes. I read a whole bunch more about trees/shrubs and decided that altho Blue Spruce cost pretty much and grew fairly slow that I would go with them. I bought them from a reputable seller and got a one yr, no ?s asked guarantee. I prepared the soil, rid the area of pre-existing vegetation, staked them up, mulched them in, fed and water them on a weekly basis and still do. They have averaged about 12-16"s per yr. I did learn tho that even if the deer don't like to eat them the bucks sure like em to mark their territory. I've now got several that lack limbs for an area of about a foot.
In a different thread about Willows, DD1 testified that he killed one near his shore. Upon removing the root system, he discovered one root ran completely under his pond to sprout on the other side. I know many of you ? my sanity and knowledge (with good cause) but DD1 is a very intelligent, ligament and honest poster. DO NOT plant a Weeping Willow within 200' of your pond if even at all. I know they are beautiful trees but also kinda dirty, lots of falling small twigs. There are many other species just as nice. Dogwood, Magnolia, and Tulip all are beautiful trees.
Good luck and pamper your GG's.

Do nature a favor, spay/neuter your pets and any weird friends or relatives.