WindbreakTrees.com

Is a deciduous fast growing shade or windbreak tree that can grow  6-10 ft per year, and after 7 years top out at 40 ft.  No competition from grass and weeds and adequate moisture is necessary for rapid growth.

One row planted 5 to 10 ft apart will give an effective windbreak, screen and snow catch in just a couple of years. Our favorite spacing in good soil is a double row spaced 8 ft apart in the row and 8 ft between rows. With our 8X8 spacing we show a 30% reduction in the wind during the winter with no leaves.  They get leaves on in early April and hold them until the middle of Nov. here in Iowa so offer a great windbreak during this time period.  More rows with wider spacing would be even better.  The Austrees to the right in the picture are a double row 4 years old from a potted plant.  A 5-8 ft potted tree will usually be 10 ft tall by the fall of the first year it is in the ground. We sell and plant potted Austrees anytime the ground is not frozen (March-December).

. The branches are very flexible and not brittle like other willows so we rarely see any branch breaking in high winds or ice storms (see picture below).  They do not spread by suckers or seed like other willows can.

At this time the long-term life of these plants are not known but we have seen some over 20 years old and they still look good.  I always suggest planting  evergreen trees on the inside of the Austrees so you do have better windbreak protection in the winter and long term. We have shown a 20% faster growth on evergreens planted inside of the Austrees in a windbreak.  It appears that the Austrees with there leaves on in the early spring help by keeping the wind off of the new growth, protecting the evergreens from the strong spring winds that can damage the new growth.

We also do like to plant an Austree 6 ft from the last evergreen in our windbreak rows and some in the middle of our newly planted windbreak. The buck deer in the fall (Sep- Dec.) will first come into your windbreak and “attack” with their horns these 8ft tall flexible trees and destroy them instead of your valuable evergreens.  The below tree has had this happen.  The following spring and every spring for 5 years, cut the Austrees off 1 ft from the ground and they will re-grow and be ready in the fall for the next round of buck deer rubs, do this every year. After the evergreens are 10 ft+ tall you can cut off the Austrees used for deer protection, in the fall at ground level, apply roundup to the stump and remove the above ground part from your windbreak. No reason to remove the roots as they will rot away in just a couple of years.

Double row of Potted Austrees 1 year old and already 12 ft tall

These Austrees had 1 inch of ice on them.

Two weeks later the ice melted, they spring back up and  no branches were broken.

We sell two sizes of Austrees as we have found these work the best.

The 15" Cuttings are easy to plant 12"deep, slot or small hole, and when given good weed control and average rainfall, usually are about 6-8 ft tall by the end of the first year.  If using them for a windbreak after the first year in the spring we suggest you cut them off 3 ft above the ground to get them to "bush" out and give a better windbreak with more branches and leaves down low.  Normal losses for first year 3-8%.

The Potted ones are easy to plant with an 8" auger.  Dig hole 2 ft deep remove pot drop in hole and fill in dirt.  If using for a windbreak, after planting, cut them off 3 ft above the ground.  They will sprout many new branches and by the end of the first year can be about 10 ft tall with good weed control and average rainfall.  Normal losses for first year 0-2%.

Good weed/grass control with no competition during the growing season within 3 ft, is the most important thing you can do to get your austrees to grow fast.  Watering is less important, in an average year, we rarely water any new austrees unless there is a drought.