Fast Growing Trees to Improve Your Landscape
How to Select Trees for Your Yard and Garden
Sep 18, 2009
It can be a costly decision to choose a tree for a single desirable trait. Fast growth is a seductive characteristic, but you might sacrifice other qualities if you choose a tree for that alone. In fact, no one quality should blind you to other considerations.
Considerations in Selecting a Fast Growing Tree
The first decision point in choosing a tree is to fully understand why you want it. Are you looking to establish a privacy line or windbreak along your property? Or, do you want a tree that will be standing alone as a front yard sentinel, a decorative statement? Will this tree shade children at play, provide a bower for plantings beneath and around it, fill your yard and open windows with fragrance? Do you want to double these duties with a tree that bears fruit?
The second point is knowing your soil and water conditions and your climatic growing zone, and matching these to the needs of the trees that attract you. Will you have the time to nurture the tree’s needs to establish it?
A third point is checking the tree’s resistance to disease and insects. Some fast growing trees are susceptible to fungus and other problems.
A fourth point, often overlooked, is understanding the tree’s compatibility with other plantings. Some plants and trees do not live well together. The black walnut tree, for example, gives off a substance from its root system called juglone that is toxic to several plants and trees that attempt to grow in its vicinity. So, consider where your new tree will be planted and its neighbors now and in the future.
Having a clear idea of what type of tree you want and knowing the environment in which you will be placing it, you are ready to go “tree shopping” for a fast growing tree that will fill your space quickly.
In this regard, do not limit yourself to the advice of local nurseries. They may be knowledgeable about their stock, but remember: they have stock onsite to sell. Most either will not know or will not be motivated to assist you in the full range of possibilities for your landscape.
If you cannot find what you want this way, there is a vast online and catalog resource for trees and plants. Do not be easily talked out of your ideal tree.
The following are examples of fast growing trees in various categories, mentioned for their hardiness and disease-resistance.
Fast Growing Trees for Privacy and Wind Screens
Cryptomeria Radicans – grows 3 to 5 ft/year, 40 ft high at maturity; a pretty evergreen that is hardy, works well for privacy tree line and also as a solo decoration; zones 5-9; drought resistant; most soils.
Italian Cypress – grows up to 3 ft/year, 40 ft high at maturity; tall and narrow evergreen, also works as architectural accent; zones 7-11; drought resistant; most soils.
Thuja Green Giant – grows up to 5 ft/year, 40 ft high at maturity; evergreen; drought resistant; zones 5-9.
Willow Hybrid – grows up to 12 ft/year, 45 ft high as a mature screen planting; fair drought resistance; zones 4-9.
Fast Growing Trees for Shade and Decoration
Weeping Willow – grows up to 10 ft/year, can mature to 50 ft high; graceful in a row or grove, or as a solo tree; one of the earliest to leaf in spring and latest to shed in autumn; hardy and can thrive even without a wet environment, but will also resolve an area that tends to puddle; avoid planting near water and sewer lines; also works as a privacy line for most of the year.
American Sycamore – grows up to 6 ft/year, can mature to 70 ft high; ornamental tree with a decorative winter fruit; hardy in most soils and climates; zones 4-9.
Empress – grows up to 18 ft/year, can mature to 50 ft high; one of the fastest growing decorative trees, it blooms with fragrant purple blossoms in spring and winters over with fuzzy buds on its branches; adaptable; zones 5-11.
Ginkgo – grows up to 3 ft/year, matures to 70 ft high; hardy ornamental tree that turns brilliant yellow in early autumn; zones 3-9.
Pink Dogwood – grows up to 3 ft/year, matures up to 25 ft high; a hardier dogwood variety that is a spring blooming showstopper with berries prized by wintering birds; drought resistant; zones 5-8.
Tulip Poplar – grows up to 6 ft/year, matures up to 70 ft high; beautiful ornamental tree gives sweet-smelling yellow blooms in spring and bright yellow leaves in fall; provides dense shade; fair in drought; zones 4-9.
October Glory Maple – grows up to 4 ft/year, matures up to 50 ft high; shade and ornamental; bursts into vibrant red flame in autumn; drought tolerant; zones 3-9.
Cleveland Pear – grows up to 4 ft/year, matures up to 30 ft high; very ornamental; hardiest of the flowering pears, rich white blossoms fragrant in the spring to deep green leaves in the summer turning deep orangy red in fall; drought resistant; never needs pruning; zones 5-8.
Nutall Oak Tree – grows up to 8 ft/yr, matures up to 50 ft high; ornamental and shade; gray bark; produces acorns and good timber; both drought and flood resistant; zones 4-8.
Fast Growing Trees for Fruit and Decoration
Dwarf Black Tartarian Cherry Tree – grows up to 3 ft/year, matures up to 15 ft high; ornamental with fragrant spring blossoms; produces outstanding fruit; easy keeper; drought resistant; zones 5-8.
Elberta Peach Tree – grows up to 3 ft/year, matures up to 15 ft high; everything you want in an ornamental tree and delicious fruit too; requires pruning to keep producing; fragrant blossoms in spring; good in drought; zones 5-8.
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