If you have recently purchased a brand new home, chances are good that you are starting from scratch concerning the landscaping. This will provide you with an excellent opportunity to create the outdoor living space of your dreams by deciding what types of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants to include in your design.
Like many homeowners beginning with a bare yard and garden space, you are probably interested in planting two or three specimen trees and are hoping to find ones that grow relatively quickly. However, fast growth is not the only thing to consider when selecting trees, because many trees that produce rapid growth have certain shortcomings, such as:
- Shorter life spans – this means you will have to replace them in as little as 10 years.
- Porous, weak wood – this can lead to damage due to breakage during storms.
- Shallow root systems – lawns and nearby landscaping plants can be negatively affected by these.
Fortunately, there are plenty of available trees that grow relatively quickly that do not have these downfalls.
Fast-flourishing evergreens
Evergreens provide year-round greenery and make lawn maintenance tasks easier by not dropping mountains of leaves every fall. Following are three evergreen trees specifically chosen for their ability to grow quickly:
- Leyland cypress – the dark green needles and pyramidal shape of this tree make it an attractive accent for any yard, and it can grow over 40 feet in as little as 15 years.
- Eastern white pine – with its soft, blue-green foliage, this tree is a favorite in many parts of the country. Used as both specimen trees and as evergreen screens, this tree grows up to 40 feet within 20 years.
- Loblolly pine – unique and extremely adaptable to most soil conditions, this tree reaches 30 feet in 20 years.
Delightful and deciduous
Got your heart on specimen trees that feature fast growth as well as puts on a vibrant display of autumn color? Following are some deciduous options that will do your new yard proud:
- Katsura tree – this underrated tree reaches 25 feet in 12 years when grown from an 8-foot sapling, is basically pest- and problem-free and provides a reliable show of fall foliage color ranging from bright apricot to deep red. Katsuras make excellent patio trees because of clean leaf drop and noninvasive root systems.
- Red maple – Sturdy and adaptable to a variety of soil conditions and featuring a large variety of cultivars, this swift grower reaches 12 feet in under 5 years. Fall color ranges from brilliant red to bright yellow and orange.
- River birch – Besides the happy yellow fall foliage this tree features, you will get year-round interest due its peeling, shaggy bark in winter and deep green leaves in spring and summer. River birches can grow 25 feet in 15 years.
- Tulip poplar – Selecting a fast-growing tree usually requires sacrificing flowers. However, this tree provides an abundance of tulip-shaped spring flowers among dark green, glossy leaves that turn vibrant yellow in autumn.
Naturally, other considerations exist when selecting specimen trees for new landscaping projects. Personal preferences and regional cultivation requirements will certainly apply. Proper care will ensure that trees remain aesthetically appealing and healthy for many years to come.
Article sources
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/fastgrowing-deciduous-shade-trees-67388.html; http://www.bhg.com/gardening/trees-shrubs-vines/trees/fast-growing-evergreens/; https://www.thisoldhouse.com/ideas/fast-growing-shade-trees