The Austree: Fast Growth Comes with Hidden Costs

Marketed as a miracle shade and windbreak tree, the Austree (a hybrid willow) grows up to six feet per year. But rapid growth means weak wood—branches snap easily, littering the yard with twigs. Roots aggressively send up suckers, and the tree attracts tent caterpillars and canker diseases. While it can function as a windbreak on large rural properties, it's a poor choice for residential landscapes where messy debris and structural weakness become liabilities.

For shade, invest in slower-growing, stronger-wooded trees like oaks, maples, or elms. For quick screens, consider hybrid poplars only as temporary placeholders while permanent trees establish.