My father-in-law has given my wife and I 5 acres of rolling farm field that presently gets planted each spring with either feed corn or soybeans in lower Wisconsin (Iowa Co.) We were hoping to plant some wind break trees along the entire edge of the property so that maybe 20 years from now, we might build a getaway home there. Any suggestions for a reasonable, fast growing type of tree? My father-in-law has already planted some white pines along his home in the same area, but every year we go out there for the holiday's it looks like they have hardly grown. Thanks in advance.

-- Fred Siegele (boeingdesigner@yahoo.com), February 28, 2002

Answers

Poplars make good fast growing windbreaks.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), February 28, 2002.

poplars (some claim 4 per year)grow really fast. But plant slower stuff to. The fast stuff doesn't live very long so you want something more long lived filling in the gap as the fast ones start dying off.

-- Novina in ND (homespun@stellarnet.com), February 28, 2002.

In Virginia the Leyland Cypress is very popular as a nice screening tree. It grows at the rate of three feet a year and in this are I bought 2-foot trees for $7.95 each. They can be left natural or trimmed depending on the look you want. They grow to about twenty to twenty-five feet tall. I'm not sure if they grow in your area or not. I don't think they have any problem with colder winters but I just don't know. I can relate to your issue because I did a lot of research a few years ago for a similar tree before I found out about the Leyland Cypress. Most of the trees I came up with were either too slow growing or too expensive. Let us know what you decide on.

-- Colleen (pyramidgreatdanes@erols.com), February 28, 2002.

Twenty years is about right for some commercial tree crops. You might talk to state or federal forstry advisers and agricultural extension officers - whatever your taxes pay for - and see what's possibly. You might even be able to plant, then thin as Christmas tree crops for a few years, then let mature and have most of them looged off, just leaving the ones around the perimeter. Could not only give you some income, but also some tax benefits as an ongoing agricultural enterprise.

It also would give you something to do with your time - whether that's a good thing or not is up to you. You get the best lumber by doing branch pruning as the trees grow, so you get long clean trunks. It would give you a place to spend some of your vacation, working in the open air a little each day. That ongoing activity would help justify the agricultural enterprise side of things.

You might also be able to establish mushrooms and other fungi in your forest/plantation. Maybe more income, but at least fun and variety.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), February 28, 2002.

Gee, Chuck, I REALLY hope whatever forum software we get can be set to do an auto. spell-check; and have options for English and for American spelling.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), February 28, 2002.

Hello, Calling your county extension office would be a good idea. We don't have one in our county but you don't have to live in the same county. We bought a bunch of trees about 7 years ago and have some great windbreaks. The county sells the tiny size trees every spring. You can get a list mailed to you but you send your money in by a certain date and all the trees come in at one time. The price is great and the instructions were complete. If you don't give them a gallon of water every day in their first year, they won't do well and may die.

Some trees are not really windbreak trees. The cedars and pines have their greenery all year long. We got some Russian Olives and they great super fast but they aren't a windbreak tree. The county will only sell trees that will grow in your area but they are young and need the extra care. The cedars and pines have surpassed the olives and are most impressive. I tell them, I knew youwhen you were just a little twig.

Take the time and study up on where to plant and what kind. There are specific distances you should consider to make any windbreak effective. If they will need irrigating, make sure you can do it regularly as required by the tree. You will feel more confident about your venture and the time and effort you will be putting into it.

Good Luck, Nita

-- Nita Holstine (nita@phancypages.com), February 28, 2002.

Lombardy poplars do grow very fast, but are relatively short lived. Chinese Elm also grows fast. Pine trees might be your best bet, as they are longer lived and dense- good for a windbreak. I would consider, in your locality, blue spruce, because they have limbs that touch the ground- very good for wind break. Osage oranges are good for hedges (field type).

-- kevin (Vantravlrs@aol.com), February 28, 2002.

The National Agroforestry Center has free publications that describe how to design and plant a windbreak.

-- Darren (df1@infi.net), February 28, 2002.

Absolutly call your County Extension Agent. I see a lot of Poplars in our area planted for this, however a proper windbreak uses more than one row of trees and uses trees of different heights. You are smart to think ahead like this and get prepared. LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), February 28, 2002.

in our area we call soil conservation(a USDA office). They even order in trees and we bought them cheap!

-- Novina in ND (homespun@stellarnet.com), February 28, 2002.

Hi bred< Ive seen Paulowina and Austree advertised as fast growing windbreak trees. Agree with earlier post that fast growing trees die youn. Diversify!

-- ken (you@surfbest.net), February 28, 2002.

at 20 years, poplars will be OLD and starting to fall on your retirement home

OAK trees, fertilized and watered, will be taller than house high and full in 20 years. That is how long we have been in our house, and we started with knee high oaks. They now are very large and shade the west side and keep wind off the north.

-- Rose (open_rose@hotmail.com), February 28, 2002.

Cypress or another type of evergreen should be considered if you want the wind break to be useful in winter months

-- SM Steve (unreal@msn.com), March 01, 2002.

Hi Fred,

We lived in North Central IL and planted wind breaks around our place. We found that the hybred poplars and willows grew quickly to help cut down on the wind in 3-4 years. We also planted douglas fir, colorado blue spruce and white pines next to the break provided by the willows and poplars to provide the break for the long haul. As mentioned by others, the poplars and willows don't have a very long lifespan for a tree. The fir and pine, planted staggerd and 3 deep were a wonderful windbreak! Darlene

-- Darlene in W WA (tomdarsavy@cs.com), March 01, 2002.