QuestionWhat would be a good fast-growing windbreak for Missoula, Mt, zone 4, with clay soil? I have a 4 acre square parcel with a gentle incline. In the past the gusts going up the hill have picked up my daughter's plastic playhouse and blown it up the hill. More recently, it upended her heavy wooden playset (slide, swings, monkey bars, loft area, etc.). Not sure what other info you need, but I am looking for something low maintenance as regular watering would be very difficult at the edge of the property. I can't come much closer to the house as I have a drain field for my septic system. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.
AnswerHello,
Trees and shrubs will not give you an effective windbreak for 5 to 10 years after planting but you might consider windbreak fencing as a stopgap measure or for use in combination with trees. The break requires about a 50 percent porosity to be effective.
The further the windbreak is located from the area you want to protect,the taller the break has to be. When trees are used as a break,a thicker grouping of trees offers more resistance to the wind,so plant at least two rows of trees. The taller trees will have a gap at the bottom allowing wind to pass. Cover this gap with shrubs.
In general,the area of protection from wind on the leeward side is ten times the height of the break.
The following trees and shrubs are of moderate to high drought tolerance. Most are native to montana and will tolerate clay soil.
Trees
Scots Pine (to 70 feet,high drought tolerance.fast growing)
Norway Spruce (to 60 feet tall,moderate drought tolerance,fast growing)
Colorado Blue Spruce (to 75 feet,moderate drought tolerance,slow to moderate growth rate)
Shrubs
Buffaloberry (edible fruit)
Red Dogwood
Chokecherry (edible fruit)
Artificial Windbreak Material
mesh
fabric
wire fencing
slats
lattice
spaced fence boards
wattle (woven tree branches)
Mark Harshman
For more comprehensive help check out my website at:
http://www.prestoexperts.com/expert/markland
