Knowledgebase

Windbreak #867924

Asked May 10, 2024, 4:19 PM EDT

I would like advice about planting a windbreak, species of appropriate trees, distance from a house, spacing, etc. Can we discuss via phone? Thank you, Jean

Howard County Maryland

Expert Response

Hello Jean,

While Ask Extension is only web-based, we are happy to provide suggestions if you can give us information about the site conditions and what you're looking for in the planting. For example:
  • how much direct summer sun would the area receive? (full sun is 6-8 or more hours of unobstructed sun, for example)
  • does the soil in the planting site drain well, skew dry, or skew wet?
  • do deer regularly visit the area and browse?
  • what is the desired mature size of the plants, or at least a minimum/maximum height or width that the space can accommodate without relying on pruning? are there any overhead utility lines?
  • do you prefer the plants be evergreen? (many evergreens fare best when they themselves are sheltered from wind, but wind tolerances vary)
Distance between plants in a row or cluster and from a plant to the nearest building (or to pavement, like a driveway or road) will greatly depend on the species chosen, though as a generalization, the taller the shrub/tree, the further from the building it should be. (Utilities say something similar for overhead lines...the taller the plant, the further from being directly under the lines it should be.)

If you have a photo or two to add of the area you wish to plant, that can also help us narrow-down plant recommendations in addition to the information above.

Miri
Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied May 10, 2024, 4:40 PM EDT

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