Creating a Natural Privacy Screen or Wind Break

If you have property that is in need of some sort of windbreak or privacy screen, using trees is a beautiful and natural way to accomplish this. Of course, there are quite a few different varieties of trees that will shelter you from the wind or provide privacy, so doing a little research first is the key. You could also place artificial structures such as fences or buildings, but they can wear, erode, chip, peel and look unnatural. Trees are designed by Mother Nature to sway in the wind without breaking, unless it's hurricane or tornado force winds, and they can create an organic fence around your property or privacy from the neighbors.

Choosing the trees to plant will depend on your region and exactly what you need. If you only need something to delineate your property from another, then a row of any shrub, like juniper, that will thrive in your region will do. But if you need more, the continue reading below.

First of all, you have to determine what plant zone you live in. The zone determines what plants will survive in your region. It's easy to find your zone using the Internet or if you don't have access to the Internet, you can call or visit your local nursery and ask. Basically, the zones are determined by climate, altitude, temperature, etc. A map of zones can be found at http://www.fast-growing-trees.com/AllZones.htm. Once you know your plant zone, the next step is to figure out the area you need protected from wind or for privacy.

If, for instance, you want an entire edge of your property made private, you will want trees that grow anywhere from 7 to 10 feet tall. This will give you enough privacy from neighbors or passersby. Some trees that grow this tall are Thuja Green Giant, Emerald Green Thuja, willows, holly trees, Italian Cypress trees, poplars or even redwoods. You might think about the width of the trees as well, as this will determine how close and how many trees you need to plant. Italian Cypress trees grow straight and slender, leaving gaps between the trees, so these may not provide enough privacy. However, these trees are excellent for making a wind break. They grow somewhat slowly, though, so planning is important. Willow trees grow faster and can also provide shade or animal habitat.

If you don't need much privacy, but want some shelter from wind, hedges can give you a pretty, natural fence line. Although hedges generally need regular trimming, whereas trees don't normally require much work. The most important thing to remember is to plan and do research, determining the planting zone you live in and measuring the area where you need the wind break or privacy screen. It's also better to use native plants for your area because they will be best suited to the weather conditions and be advantageous to the wildlife.