Protect your field and garden with fast-growing windbreak trees

Protecting fields and gardens is an important issue for many landowners. High winds can cause damage to crops and plants, which in turn can result in significant economic losses. An effective solution to reduce the effects of wind on your property is to create screens of fast-growing windbreak trees.

In this article, we'll explore the benefits of creating windbreak trees, plus list four of the best fast-growing trees for creating windbreaks for your field or garden.

Benefits of creating tree screens for protection

Creating windbreak tree shades can provide several benefits for your property. Among the most important are:

• Wind Speed Reduction: Tree shades can significantly reduce wind speed on your property, which can reduce damage to crops and plants.
• Soil Erosion Protection: High winds can erode the soil, which can have a negative impact on soil quality and plant health. Tree screens can help reduce soil erosion by reducing wind speed.
  
• Microclimate Improvement: Tree shades can create a more favorable microclimate for plant growth by reducing exposure to high winds and providing shade.
  
• Biodiversity Enhancement: Creating tree screens can encourage biodiversity on your property by providing habitat for a variety of plant and animal species.
  

The four fast-growing trees ideal for windbreaks

1. Pinus strobus

White pine (Pinus strobus) is a conifer species native to North America that has been commonly used as a shade and windbreak tree. It is a good option to create a curtain of trees due to its characteristics and benefits.

First of all, the White Pine is a fast-growing species that can reach a height of up to 40 meters. This makes it an ideal choice for creating a screen for fast-growing trees to protect your field or garden from the wind. Additionally, White Pines have a consistent and predictable growth rate, making planning and care easier.

Second, white pine is a wind resistant species, with a well-developed root system that helps it withstand strong winds. Trees planted together form a natural barrier that slows wind speeds and helps protect your property from wind damage.

Another advantage of White Pines is that they are resistant to most diseases and pests that affect coniferous species, making them an ideal choice for creating a low-maintenance tree screen.

Lastly, white pines also have ecological benefits. Its needles provide shelter and habitat for various animal species, and its root system helps protect the soil from erosion.

2. Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum)

This Maple is another species of tree that is a good choice for creating windbreaks. This native North American species has traditionally been used to create tree shades due to its many beneficial characteristics.

With its rapid growth it can grow up to 24 meters tall. This makes it an excellent choice for creating fast-growing windbreaks that can provide effective protection against high winds.

They have a deep and extensive root system that makes them resistant to wind and able to withstand difficult soil conditions. They can also tolerate partial shade, making them a good choice for creating windbreaks in areas with limited light.

Another advantage of the Silver Maple is that it is a deciduous tree species. During summer, its green leaves provide shade and reduce the temperature in the area, while in autumn, the leaves turn golden yellow before falling. This provides a beautiful seasonal view and allows more light into the area in winter.

3. Trembling Aspen (Populus tremuloides)

This is a native North American tree species that is known for its quivering leaves and its ability to thrive in difficult conditions. These characteristics make it a good option to create wind curtains in fields and gardens.

One of the main advantages of the Trembling Aspen is its rapid growth, since it can grow up to 20 meters in just 20 years. In addition, its root system is quite deep and extensive, which gives it good stability and resistance to wind.

Another advantage of Trembling Aspen is its ability to tolerate wet and poorly nourished soils, making it suitable for areas with difficult conditions. Also, it can grow well in both full sun and partial shade.

However, it is important to note that the Trembling Aspen is a species that can be invasive in some areas and may require regular pruning to keep its size in check. It may also be susceptible to diseases and pests, such as the cottonwood moth.

4. The Tree of Paradise (Ailanthus altissima)

This is another fast-growing tree native to China and Taiwan, which has been introduced to many parts of the world as an ornamental species and to control soil erosion. It is known for its ability to grow in harsh conditions, such as poor soils, extreme temperatures, and high levels of pollution.

Among the characteristics of the Paradise Tree that make it useful for creating walls against the wind are its height and its density. This tree can grow up to 25 meters tall, which means it can provide a very effective windbreak in areas where the winds are strong and constant. Additionally, the leaves of the Paradise Tree are large and dense, giving it a dense foliage appearance and making it an effective windbreak.

It is important to note that the Paradise Tree also has some characteristics that make it less desirable as a species to be planted in urban areas. For example, it has a strong, unpleasant odor that can be annoying to some people, and its root system can be invasive and damage underground structures. Additionally, it can easily spread through seeds and roots, which means it can be difficult to control its growth and prevent it from becoming an invasive pest.