Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] Fast Growing Trees

market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Market Farming

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: "Steve Michel" <michel AT wbsnet.org>
  • To: "'Market Farming'" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Fast Growing Trees
  • Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 18:31:31 -0600

Aus trees in western Kansas are a waste of time and water.  Excellent information below I would reinforce the notion to meet with your county extension agent and plant for a 20-30 year mature wind break.  Control grass and weed competition  out to the drip line of all trees with mulch and you can expect up to a 200% increase in growth with normal rainfall.  Plant species that have proven disease resistance and have a very minimum of insect problems.  Investigate older wind breaks (10 years+) in your area to see what has worked and what has not survived.  Tree spacing is also very important and resist the temptation to plant closer than recommended, unless you are willing to spade out 15’ trees in less than 10 years.  Wildlife plantings are wonderful and very long lived.  Most importantly keep it simple and plant diversity in the landscape.

Southwestern Kansas zone 5b. avg. 17” rainfall.

 

From: market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Shawnee Flowerfarmer
Sent: Saturday, December 05, 2009 11:08 AM
To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Fast Growing Trees

 

The information below from Mr. Wiener is superb.  I would add the idea of generous soil amending and mulching to the regular water and feeding.  My number 1 customer request is for screening/shelter trees and I encourage customers to consider  wildlife habitat as part of the design.
Viburnum dentatum, unpruned, makes a hardy, fast growing 10-12ft tall and wide buffer zone while your trees are maturing that catches snow, and is beloved by birds. Several cultivars with amazing fall coloring are readily available and zone 4 hardy.  The old timey hedging cotoneaster can reach 8-10 feet tall in 3 years or less and fill in blanks til the trees are bigger.  Ditto Aronia and privet.  Catalpa trees can grow 5-7 feet a year; it's high nectar flowers are part of a beneficial insect habitat.  With ample moisture, you can almost see an alder tree grow.  Consider a shelterbelt as a hedgerow that will evolve over time and you will have more benefits on your property that just a windbreak.
Shawnee, zone 5

> From: benjamin.l.wiener AT us.army.mil
> To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
> Date: Sat, 5 Dec 2009 08:06:52 +0300
> CC: Market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
> Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Fast Growing Trees
>
> For a good answer we would need more information. Zone 4 only tells how cold you get, not how much moisture you get or what kind of soil you have. Talk to your county extention agent and they should have both recommendations and spring tree sales brochures. They buy in bulk and pass the savings on to people planting shelter belts and wildlife plantings. The faster a tree grows the weaker and lighter the wood. Fast growing trees are are generally shorter lived. Any tree will grow faster if watered and fertilized regularly. You may want a medium growth tree and fertilize and water it while young to get it up to size then let it live and stand up to the wind for generations.
>
> Ben
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Mary Conner <chucknmaryc AT yahoo.com>
> Date: Saturday, December 5, 2009 6:27
> Subject: [Market-farming] Fast Growing Trees
> To: Market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
>
>
> > I need to bolster my shelterbelt and am wondering if anyone can
> > recommend a type of fast growing tree that would give good
> > protection from strong winds. They'd be far enough back not to
> > interfere with sunlight on the garden. We're in Zone 4. Thanks!
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Market-farming mailing list
> > Market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
> > http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/market-farming
> >
> _______________________________________________
> Market-farming mailing list
> Market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/market-farming
>


Chat with Messenger straight from your Hotmail inbox. Check it out




Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page