Thanks! Will also consider short grasses. Shrubs can also become the victims of too much wind. … First of all, decide how tall your wind-blocking trees needs to be. Plus, Orders Over $99 Ship for Free. In some parts of the country, wind-blown dust and sand can be a serious problem for plants, critters, and non-living possessions, too. Your main problem is that any fruit trees will be open to having their flowers stripped off by the wind, no fruit. Don’t forget that you will need to water your trees until they are well established (probably several months), so be sure to have a water source in place like a Tree Gator, an irrigation system, or an established watering schedule. Known by many names, this woody bush is very wind tolerant thanks to its strong build and flexible stalks. Ultimately, evergreen conifers tend to grow fast, have very low maintenance requirements, and rarely need pruning. If you’re planting rows of taller trees, leave 15 feet between each tree and 25 feet of space between rows. However, planting a mixture of different kinds of evergreens adds diversity and architectural interest to your landscape. Would it be possible to erect a wind break of posts with very fine netting or the slatted plastic wind baffle that nurseries and GC use, That is very effective and if you only plan to have a couple of trees you would not need a large amount to filter the wind? A subspecies of magnolia, its properties are similar to the Southern Magnolia above. We usually send out orders on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays by FedEx so your plant(s) arrive before the weekend. Like most palms, its trunk is very flexible. Native to most of the northern and western United States, this plant is known by many names, including Red Willow, Redstem Dogwood, Redtwig Dogwood, Red-rood, American Dogwood, Creek Dogwood, and Western Dogwood. The following sentence is from above. Small, slender or flexible leaves help wind to pass through the tree canopy. Trees and shrubs won’t grow as tall in windy conditions but they are so important for breaking up the wind. We don’t find trees that can’t cope with heavy snow and ice storms in New Hampshire. It is too difficult to put a photo of each tree. The plants are actually native to the Himalayas … For more information on landscaping ideas for trees and shrubs, don’t miss these articles: How to Choose Landscaping Shrubs and Landscaping Shrubs and Trees. In very early spring its brilliant yellow umbels of blossom open like gold dust on the small trees, often while snow … Like most hollies, this one is very wind resistant. Would not recommend for windyspots. My tulip maples in Ohio pruned themselves every storm. These ornamental flowering trees will add color and interest to your garden. A popular fruiting tree on the southwestern coast of North America, this palm grows in many tropical and subtropical areas. Although it grows relatively high, its whip-like branches do well in the winds of the west. Known by several names, these are some of the most common palm trees in the eastern part of North America, especially in Florida and off the coasts of North Carolina and Virginia. Native to the eastern side of North America, this tree is very wind resistant due to its thin leaves and vines, which give easily to the torrent. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Also known as the Bull Bay, this tree grows in the southeastern United States both on and off the coasts. River Birch. Apart from the flowers, it is wind hardy in most areas. A living fence that blocks noise, reduces air pollution, hides an unwanted view, provides a backdrop for your plantings, reduces dust and sand, reduces heating costs for your home and slows the wind. I needed to see that they look like in their natural habitat. Here, not help at all. These shrubs tend to hold up better. Sometimes prevailing winds can be more than just a nuisance. Best Wind-Blocking Trees: Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9 and Zone 10. There, it is valued for its juicy and tart red fruit produced in late summer. It is often called a small tree because of its tree-like structure, but it retains its holly background. “Native to the eastern side of North America, this tree is very wind resistant due to its thin leaves and vines, which give easily to the torrent.” are very common street trees that are well-suited … Zelkova Trees. Native to the southeastern U.S. It grows rabidly and densely for miles, shading out all other species, disrupting ecosystems, and sucking up thousands of acre-feet of water. Known by various names, this Japanese Rose is grown often as a covering vine or fence and does well in the wind. And for some reason got hit by lightning twice. Shrubs planted in groups tend to sustain less … When planting a windbreak or privacy screen you should position the trees at least twelve feet away from your home or foundation. Native to Mexico, this palm has many names and shares the characteristics of most tall palms, being flexible and robust. You might be able to get by with an evergreen hedge just eight or ten feet high, or you may need a taller living wall of majestic conifers. These plants are actually small to medium-size shrubs. There are shrubs of this name, but in the U.S., the trees are more commonly grown. The equations show that changing the characteristics of the trees had meager effects: Doubling the size of a tree only increases the required wind speed by 9%; likewise, using wood more … Catmint, Nepeta cataria, is a traditional favourite for silver … 1 = cultivars are available with smaller dimensions and/or narrower shapes. Other good choices include the Southern magnolia, live oak, crapemyrtle, bald cypress, … It grows short and somewhat stout for a palm, but retains the species’ flexibility in wind. Also called Salt Cedar, this is a large number of species of bush-like trees growing naturally in the deserts of Eurasia and Africa. Plants that are adapted to windy conditions usually have small, narrow leaves as well, such as needle-leaved … These trees and hedges will … These include some pines, hawthorn, Norway spruce and holm oak… When considering the aesthetics, try planting in clusters rather than a simple straight line. They have been transplanted to many parts of the southern U.S., however, and are known for their relatively hardy nature. Small trees (under 30 feet in height) present less surface area for winds to push against. (See the accompanying table below.) This is because plants lose more water through evaporation and transpiration when they are exposed to constant wind, thus requiring more frequent watering. Ours has gone through 2 hurricanes without missing one leaf. I would have to say that tulip trees are most definitely NOT wind resistant. They are extremely flexible, which contributes to their wind resistance. Copyright © 2020 Perfect Plants. It is usually grown as a house plant rather than a yard or garden tree. The best windbreaks plants are evergreen trees with dense foliage and slender (as opposed to wide spreading) shapes. Choose appropriate, wind-resilient species. Wind Resilient Trees Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum) This tree has many names, but is best known as Bald Cypress or Gulf cypress. Use extreme caution if you consider planting tamarisk (Tamarix ramosissima, salt cedar). It is beautiful when it waves in the wind, but otherwise it’s a real bummer. This is an evergreen oak tree that has become iconic for the Old South. Your email address will not be published. They grow best in dry soils and create a thick, fibrous root network as part of its defense mechanism against wind. Have lived in both the east and midwest and in both locations, tulip trees have not fared well during storms. Cold winter winds can be devastating and fatal to some plants. Hawthorn, Crataegus monogyna, is a wonderful choice for a small garden and one of the most wildlife-friendly trees you can grow. We all know strong winds, dust, and blowing sand can be damaging to structures and equipment, but constant winds, even of moderate intensity, can hurt ornamental plants, too. It grows best in shady areas and is very adaptable. Some of these spring flowering trees are great for wildlife too! Research conducted by University of Florida scientists showed that sand live oaks are the most resistant to wind damage. Keep in mind you need to chose the right tree or shrub for your hardiness zone. Other trees … Your email address will not be published. Looking at a yard with similar sized maples and tulip trees, it is the tulip trees every time that have had large branches torn off during storms while the maples were unscathed. Some compete successfully, others don’t. Tulip leaves are rather the size of maple leaves and there is nothing relating to vines. “We studied why all trees break at almost the same wind speed, and found an explanation based on fertile results … Some trees (like pine or spruce) simply bend or fold branches to shrug off snow. A wind break is a row, or a few staggered rows, of trees positioned to reduce winds that prevail. The RHS has a page of recommendations for trees and shrubs that do well in exposed sites. Large magnolia-family trees, the Tulip Tree is often mislabeled a poplar. These include broad leafed evergreens as well trees with needlelike leaves. These are large, woody trees and most species look about the same. This site is unfortunately no help to me at all. What can you suggest? Known variously as the Ficus Tree and Benjamin’s Fig, this tree is a type of fig tree from Asia and Australia that grows well in tropical and subtropical areas. The elastic properties of the wood seem to have a similarly small impact. For lower windbreaks, a dense hedge of evergreens (either broad leafed or needle leafed) might fill the bill. Zelkova serrata, native to Asia, grows as tall as 50 feet and is hardy from growing … 10% Off on Digital Gift Cards Crepe Myrtle. Like the bald cypress, the river birch loves water — but it will survive just fine if your … These are suggestions–any shrub can fail if not planted in appropriate conditions and given the care required. 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