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OUR FAVORITE WINDBREAK DESIGN
The area where this design will work the best is from the
Canadian border south to the western edge of Iowa, then along the southern border
of Iowa east to the Atlantic ocean..
OUTSIDE ROW--THE SIDE THE WIND HITS FIRST.
AUSTREE WILLOW: These
deciduous trees grow very fast of up to 8 ft per year, have leaves very early in April and hold them to late in
November, which actually helps the evergreens on the inside grow faster because
they offer them protection from the wind. They make a great snow catcher, live
a long time and top out at about 40 ft tall in 7 years. On most applications we
recommend they be planted 3-6 ft apart. Click on our link for more info on the
Austree Willow.
SECOND ROW-25 FT INSIDE OF AUSTREE WILLOW
TECHNY ARBORVITAE: If you have any type of soil except for
sandy or rocky we recommend the Techny Arborvitae. They are an excellent, dense
plant that has a medium rate of growth, and live a long time. Space these 10 ft
or farther apart in the row. If your soil is sandy or rocky use the Red Cedar. See our
link to the Techny Arborvitae for more info.
THIRD AND FORTH ROW 20 ft INSIDE OF TECHNYS
NORWAY SPRUCE: If you have almost any soil except sandy or
rocky, space these rows twenty feet apart from the Techny and 20ft between these
two rows. Space these 20 ft or farther apart in the row and use two rows of
Norway Spruce. Although not native to America, no other tree does as well
or lives as long as the Norway Spruce. Many the oldest and largest evergreens in
the northern half of North America that are used
for windbreaks are the Norway Spruce. Visit our link to the Norway Spruce.
Between the rows of evergreen trees is an excellent place
to raise a garden, berry bushes or even X-mas trees. Nothing permanent
past 10 years should be planted in this area as it will need to be removed so
the evergreens can continue to have space to grow.
These other evergreen or deciduous windbreak trees listed also work well
in 3rd or 4th or more rows. Red Cedar,
White Pine, and White Spruce.
If you are considering planting
Colorado Blue Spruce, Black Hills Spruce,
Concolor Fir, Austrian Pine, Red Pine, or
Scotch
Pine. These evergreen species although used extensively are not our
first recommendation for a long lived windbreak as they can suffer from extensive
disease, soil, and insect problems in many areas.
There is also many kinds of deciduous shrubs that can be
used in windbreaks as well.
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