Plant these fast-growing trees and enjoy the beautyand privacyof a lush living fence in just a few years.
Of course, that speedy growth often requires somethoughtful placementand additional maintenance.
However, when done right, fast-growing trees can provide decades of beauty to your yard.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
The trade-off for that speedy growth is a limited life span.
Many fast-growing trees often start declining soon after they reach maturity.
Before you plant one of these selections, consider its mature size.
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Avoid planting your tree close to septic lines and sidewalks where vigorous roots could cause problems.
It is also one of the few trees that tolerate standing water.
It is native to North America and grows best with full sun inHardiness Zones 5-10.
Credit: Denny Schrock
The highly adaptable trees grow best in Zones 8-10 with full sun andwell-drained soil.
Chinese tallow treesa good replacement for poplars in warmer regionsare especially beautifulwhen the leaves chang color in the fall.
Chinese tallow trees have a lovely, oval-shaped canopy that is nice for shade.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Instead, boost privacy with this fast-growing tree by placing it in the back corner of your landscape.
Check local restrictions before planting; some regions consider Chinese tallow tree.
They are often used as 40- to 50-foot-tall screens.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Both Lombardy poplars and cottonwoods are pretty but messy and prone to issues with pests and diseases.
Check local restrictions before planting; some regions consider cottonwoods and Lombardy poplars invasive.
So, the fast-growing tree is perfect for adding privacy in the corner of a large residential lot.
Credit: Denny Schrock
It looks like anevergreen treewith soft, fine needles during the growing season.
In autumn, however, the needles turn shades of red and brown.
Come winter, the needles drop, exposing the trees upswept symmetrical branches and bark.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Dawn redwood grows best in Zones 4-8 in moist or wet soil in full sun.
Plant European black alder in damp soil with full sun or partial shade in Zones 4-8.
Check local restrictions before planting; some regions consider European black alder invasive.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Gum
Strong, vigorous growers,gum trees(Eucalyptusspp.)
can anchor a western landscape.
The fast-growing tree, native to China and Japan, flourishes in a limited range in the United States.
Credit: Edward Gohlich
Japanese pagoda trees are favored in city landscapes for their resistance to heat, pollution, and drought.
They tolerate full sun or partial shade and need rich, well-drained soil to thrive.
To help it thrive, place a lemon bottlebrush in full sun or partial shade in well-drained soil.
Credit: Erica George
It grows 1 to 3 feet per year, sometimes reaching 50 to 70 feet tall.
Leyland cypress prefers full sun and well-drained soil in Zones 7-10.
If you dont want it to reach towering heights,prune it regularlyto keep the size under control.
Credit: Adam Albright
The silver maple is a common shade tree, but unfortunately, it has shallow roots and weak branches.
Red maples grow smaller: 50 feet tall and 40 feet wide.
Plant red and silver maples in full sun or partial shade with well-drained soil in Zones 3-9.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
The fast-growing trees grow 15 to 18 inches per year and can reach up to 100 feet tall.
The wood is weak, but you cantrain young treesto develop wide, strong branch angles to prevent splitting.
Tulip trees grow best in Zones 5-9 with full sun or partial shade and well-drained soil.
Credit: Denny Schrock
They grow 12 to 15 inches annually and can reach 100 feet tall.
Grow in full sun in Zones 3-8 with well-drained soil.
It grows 12 to 15 inches per year, eventually reaching up to 40 feet tall and wide.
Credit: William Friedman, Arnold Arboretum
It can handle part shade, but it will flower better in a full sun spot.
It is not picky about soil, can handle some drought, and is hardy in Zones 4-9.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best time to plant depends on the tree and your location.
Credit:Ginny Weiler
However, most trees should be planted in the spring or fall.
Tree spacing depends on the treeeven when planting a privacy fence.
Above all, consider the mature canopy spread of the tree you are planting.
Credit: Denny Schrock
It depends on the tree.
In general, tree roots spread approximately 1 to 3 times the height of the treeand sometimes wider.
So, avoid planting trees with wide, intricate root systems close to homes, walkways, and sidewalks.
Remember that fast-growing trees are known to deteriorate quickly after a few decades.
Plant your tree far enough from your roofline that falling limbs and trees wont cause damage.
Fast-growing trees often begin deteriorating soon after they reach maturity.
Watch for yellowing leaves, stunted foliage, and brittle, broken branches.
Inspect the trunk for cracks, peeling bark, rot, and fungus.
Check the roots for trauma, pests, and fungus.
Take note if your tree begins to lean to one side.
If you notice these issues, contact an arborist.
They may be able to revive the tree and prolong its life.
If not, they can help you safely remove the dying tree.
https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/terrestrial/plants/chinese-tallow
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/populus-nigra/
https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/factsheet/pdf/fs_algl2.pdf
