North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Samis <samis@attbi.com>]

Del, you should be able to get a number of publications about windbreaks if
you do a Web search.  Maybe 12 years ago the Minnesota
Agricultural Experiment Station published a study on field windbreaks.  It
may be available on the U of M Web site.  Although the study was about 1-row
field windbreaks compatible with overhead sprinkler irrigation systems, it
might provide good info about species survival.

I would prune evergreens after they had been in place for a year or so and
well established.  Chances are, you'll have to go back several times to
prune as the trees gain enough mass to prune without endangering or setting
them back.

May I suggest that you not get anything that needs pruning regularly?  The
last thing you need is more work.  Is there a reason why the windbreak
should not get over 15 ft. tall?  The area protected on the leeward side
will increase with the height of the plants in the windbreak.

Possible other fruiting species that you might consider using  on the south
side of the evergreen row, are wild plum (P. Americana), Canadian plum (P.
nigra), Nanking cherry, bush honeysuckle (Freedom is a Univ. of Minn.
Selection that would produce berries for birds), hazelnut, seabuckthorn
(don't know about survival or productivity in your area), chokecherry
(primary drawback is a virus it often carries that can be spread to other
Prunus), American highbush cranberry (Viburnum sp.), or Jumping Pound or
Mary Liss pincherry.--Sam



On 5/10/02 10:22 AM, "del stubbs" <pinewoodel@hotmail.com> wrote:

> I'm years late, but at last I am working toward a much needed wind break on
> the north west side of our orchard ....(to deflect the winter nor'westers
> that Bernie and Dean send this way - after their done with 'em).
> 
> Most of the literature I have seen on wind breaks seems to focus on
> deciduous bushes.....but I need the wind break in winter.
> I suppose a 10' thick row of caragana might work?
> It would be nice for the windbreak  to produce something to eat as well.
> Dream on?
> Another thought is a fast growing evergreen, and  one that won't get over 15
> feet tall.
> What do other northerners do ?
> 
> I ordered a batch of white cedar to plant out for conservation plantings, I
> was wondering if I planted some of them what their growth might be like if I
> pruned them to a single leader....rather then the bush they start as.  Have
> got endless spruce seedlings to transplant from our woods also , but no idea
> how to control the eventual size.
> Is it good, or unadvisable, to heavily prune evergreens when transplanting?
> 
> Thanks, Del  Z2/3
> 
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