Wind Break Trees

Those look like the trees Rose Acre Farms put all the way around their chicken houses here. They grew fast. I'm not sure how "dirty" they are. If I can remember, I'll call #2 son tomorrow. He's been there long enough to give me the poo on them. Son that works for Rose Acres, a giant chicken farm is here. He says those trees work very well. But they had to remove them when the bird flue came thru. He said, cut a branch off, stick it in the ground and water it well. They will grow. I drove buy them for 11 years on my way to work. They always look good without much attention to them.

Edited by HD6GTOM - 08 Apr 2020 at 11:27am

In MO we are steadily REMOVING Russian Olive as is invasive, can take over from native plants in just a few years. I am doing native Cedars here, in good soil grow fast where tolerate poor soils, good canopy all year, scent is attractive and can harvest after a decade or two for post or saw logs.

Edited by DMiller - 08 Apr 2020 at 7:11am

Black Walnut is poison to a lot of other plants.

Stagger rows, also stagger tree species, I would say use as many different species of trees, as you can.  Why?  because when the next bug to hop off the boat, from china, attacks it won't get all of 'em!  Leyland cypress is attacked by bagworms, as are most soft needle evergreens.  Wooly adelgids attack hemlocks some mites attack pines and spruces.  There are other pests, that attack, too.  I'd ask a local landscaper, or stop, when you see a windbreak, you like, and ask the owner how he likes the trees he has.  Some are stick droppers, like sycamore, or produce numerous prolific nasty roots, like silver maple.  Then there's the worst tree I've ever encountered, the Aus tree, it does both!

I am particularly fond of Eastern Red Cedar.
They will grow anywhere, good soil or no soil; and, you can't pull one out with a bull-dozer, so the wind isn't going to up-root them.
They will have thick branches close to the ground and make a very good view-block.
They grow quick, but seldom get over thirty feet tall, and live indefinitely.
I have never known of them being susceptible to any sort of blight or insect plague.
Posts and lumber made from them is pretty much weather-proof and will last indefinitely.

BuckSkin wrote: I am particularly fond of Eastern Red Cedar. They will grow anywhere, good soil or no soil; and, you can't pull one out with a bull-dozer, so the wind isn't going to up-root them. They will have thick branches close to the ground and make a very good view-block. They grow quick, but seldom get over thirty feet tall, and live indefinitely. I have never known of them being susceptible to any sort of blight or insect plague. Posts and lumber made from them is pretty much weather-proof and will last indefinitely.