Today the temp is 7 and winds were 50 mph. We have a new home in rural northwest OH and I'm looking for ideas for trees and shrubs that can withstand that wind.
Thanks for any help you can provide.
Carolyn
====================
Hello Carolyn,
You might want to look at creating a windbreak, which generally consists of 2 to 3 layers of trees planted to literally break the wind away from the house and other structures. Generally, there is a row of evergreen trees (firs, junipers, pines, spruces) and up to two rows of deciduous trees and shrubs. With the deciduous trees, consider fast growers such as green ash, tulip poplar, sycamore, and elms.
I have included a link from the NRCS which used to be referred to as the Conservation District Office. This will describe the benefits and how to go about planting a windbreak on your property.
The fast growing hybrid willow and hybrid poplar trees are great and will gain a lot of height quickly. However, they should not be considered as long term trees where they are constantly heavy winds. Their lifespan is generally limited to about 10 to 18 years in such areas.
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/TECHNICAL/ECS/forest/wind/windbreaks.html
Thank you for your inquiry.
Sincerely Yours,
Cheryl D. Jones
