SWCD/LMO
2017 Tree Recommendations
Figure 1: Cross Section of a Typical Farmstead Shelterbelt
References
Deciduous trees and shrubs (18-36”): $1.75
Conifer trees (1-gallon pot; 15-18”): $8.50
Continuous mat:
Square mats:
(installed) $0.75/ft
(pickup) $0.33/ft
(installed) $1.75 each
(pickup) $1.35 each
Planting fee: $135-minimum ($0.20 per bare root; $0.30 per potted tree)
Cost share: 40% (up to $800)
Spacing
Shrubs: 3-6ft in row; 6-10ft between rows
Small trees: 10-15ft in row; 20ft between rows
Medium/large trees: 12-20ft+ in row; 20ft+ between rows
Medium/Large Trees ($1.75)
1. (Northern) Red Oak (Quercus rubra)
Growth rate: medium
Mature size: 60-80ft tall; 40-50ft wide
Hardiness Zone Classification: 3-8
Disease Concerns: oak wilt; chlorosis in high pH
Soil Suitability: sandy loam to clay; pH 4.0 to 6.5; moderate drainage; upland
Notes: good firewood for cooking. Toxicity in leaves/acorns to browsing livestock
2. Hybrid Willow (Salix matsudana/alba)
Growth rate: fast
Mature sizes: 35-45ft tall;
Hardiness Zone Classification: most
Soil Suitability: prefers moist to wet soils;
Notes: not recommended; considered “scrub” tree
3. Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)
Growth rate: slow
Mature sizes: 50-75ft tall; 30-50ft wide
Hardiness Zone Classification: 3-5
Disease Concerns
Soil Suitability: only thrives on sandy loam to silty loam; well-drained; pH 6.0-7.3
Notes: can take 40-years before harvesting syrup
4. Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
Growth rate: moderate to fast
Mature sizes: 40-75ft tall; 25-50ft wide
Hardiness Zone Classification: 3-9
Soil Suitability: sandy loam to silty clay; adaptable to moist and dry sites; pH 6.5-8.0
Notes: shade, windbreak; good city tree
Conifers ($8.50)
5. Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa)
Growth rate: medium
Mature sizes: 40-100ft tall; 20-75ft wide
Hardiness Zone Classification: 3-7
Soil Suitability: excessive to moderate drainage; sand to silty clay; pH 4.9-9.1
Notes: drought tolerant; can cause abortions if eaten by bred cattle
6. Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperous virginiana)
Growth rate: slow
Mature sizes: 40-50ft tall; 8-20ft wide
Hardiness Zone Classification: 2-9
Soil Suitability: sand to clay; upland; pH 4.7-7.8
Notes: drought tolerant
7. Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens)
Growth rate: medium
Mature sizes: 70-100ft tall; 20-35ft wide
Hardiness Zone Classification: 3-7
Soil Suitability: sandy loam to clay; upland; pH 4-7.8
Notes:
8. Black Hills Spruce (Picea glauca var. densata)
Growth rate: medium
Mature sizes: 30-50ft tall; 20-35ft wide
Hardiness Zone Classification: 3-6
Disease Concerns: insect
Soil Suitability: loamy sand to clay; 4.0-8.0 pH; moderate drainage
Notes: drought tolerant
Shrubs/Small Trees ($1.75)
9. Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea)
Growth rate:
Mature sizes: 5-12ft tall; 9-15ft wide
Hardiness Zone Classification:
Soil Suitability: poorly drained sand/clay/loam
Notes:
10. Late Bloom Lilac (Syringa villosa)
Growth rate: medium
Mature sizes: 10-30ft tall; 6-12ft wide
Hardiness Zone Classification: 2-7
Soil Suitability: sandy loam to clay loam; upland; pH 4.5-8.0
Notes:
11. American Plum (Prunus americana)
Growth rate: medium
Mature sizes: 10-30ft tall; 6-25ft wide
Hardiness Zone Classification: 2-4a
Soil Suitability: pH 6.0-8.0
Notes: native that forms thickets; good for making preserves; wildlife planting,
windbreaks
12. Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago)
Growth rate: medium
Mature sizes: 15-25ft tall; 6-10ft wide
Hardiness Zone Classification: 2-8
Soil Suitability: poor to excessive drainage; pH 6.0-7.8
Notes: high wildlife rating; good winter food for birds; drought tolerant; invasive;
Wali-G Recommendations
Wali-G Medium/large Deciduous Trees
Spacing: 12-20ft in row; 20ft between rows
1. White Oak (Quercus alba)
Growth rate: slow
Mature sizes: 75-100ft tall; 75-100ft wide
Hardiness Zone Classification: 4-8
Soil Suitability: well/moderately drained sand/loam/clay; pH 6.0-7.0
Notes: deer love white oak acorns (acorns can be deadly to cattle). Good firewood for
cooking. Native to south east Minnesota
2. Black Walnut (Juglans nigra)
Growth rate: fast
Mature sizes: 70-100ft; 75-100ft
Hardiness Zone Classification: 4-8
Soil Suitability: moderately/well-drained; can tolerate dry soil; loam to clay loam;
pH 6.6-8.0
Notes: premier hardwood for timber/veneer; soil under tree can be toxic to plants
3. Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum)
Growth rate: fast
Mature sizes: 60-80ft tall; 40-50ft wide
Hardiness Zone Classification: 3-7
Soil Suitability: poorly drained loam/clay; pH 5.0-7.8
Notes: manganese chlorosis in high pH soils; compaction tolerant
4. Poplar Siouxland (seedless cottonwood) (Populous deltoides)
Growth rate: fast
Mature sizes: 70-90ft tall; 40ft wide
Hardiness Zone Classification: 3-5
Soil Suitability: poor to excessive drainage; pH 6.0-8.0
Notes:
5.
Maple, Autumn Blaze (Acer x freemanii)
Growth rate: fastest growing maple
Mature sizes: 40-60ft tall; 40-60ft wide
Hardiness Zone Classification: 4-8
Soil Suitability: widely adaptable;
Notes: hardy tree; long lasting fall color; drought tolerant
Wali-G Medium/large Conifers
Spacing: 12-20ft in row; 20ft between rows
1. Red (Norway) Pine (Pinus resinosa)
Growth rate: fast
Mature sizes: 75-100ft tall; 50-75ft wide
Hardiness Zone Classification: 3-5
Soil Suitability: moist, well-drained soil sandy/loam; pH 4.5-7.2
Notes: Minnesota state tree
2.
Norway Spruce (Picea abies)
Growth rate: fastest growing spruce
Mature sizes: 40-100ft tall; 20-50ft wide
Hardiness Zone Classification: 3-7
Soil Suitability: moist deep loam soils; adaptable to clay and sand
Notes: hardy/adaptable; pH 5-7.5 (will even grow in pH9)
3.
Austrian Pine (Pinus nigra)
Growth rate: medium
Mature sizes: 50-60ft tall; 20-40ft wide
Hardiness Zone Classification: 3-7
Soil Suitability: sand to clay; pH 4.5-8.0
Notes: drought tolerant; best pine for clay soils; susceptible to diplodia shoot blight
Wali-G Shrub/Small tree
Spacing Shrubs: 3-6ft in row; 6-10ft between rows. Small trees: 10-15ft in row; 20ft between rows.
1. Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)
Growth rate: fast
Mature sizes: 10-25ft tall; 10ft wide
Hardiness Zone Classification:
Soil Suitability: not fussy about soil type or pH level; prefers well-drained loam;
Notes: not drought tolerant
2. Hazelnut, Americana (Corylus americana)
Growth rate: medium
Mature sizes: 6-12ft tall; 6-12ft wide
Hardiness Zone Classification: 3-9
Soil Suitability: moderate to excessive drainage; pH 6.1-7.5
Notes: edible nuts; suckering habit
3.
Amur Maple (Acer ginnala)
Growth rate: slow
Mature sizes: 10-20ft tall; 15-20ft wide
Hardiness Zone Classification: 3-8
Soil Suitability: adaptable (except for alkaline or poorly drained soil); pH 4.5-7.5
Notes: low drought tolerance
Rock County Master Gardener
Windbreak Tree Suggestions
November 2016
Deciduous Large Trees
Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)
Kentucky Coffeetree (Gymnocladusdioica)
Corktree (Phellodendron)
Redmond Linden (Tilia americana)
Greenspire Linden (Tilia cordata)
Princeton Elm (Ulmus americana)
Discovery Elm (Ulmus davidiana)
Accolade Elm (Ulmus hybrid)
Conifers
Meyer Spruce (Picea meyeri)
Tannebaum Pine (Pinus mugo)
Scotch Pine (Pinus sylvestris)
Small Tree/Shrub
Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry (Amelanchier x grandiflora)
Glossy Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)
Autumn Magic Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)
1. Red Oak
4. Hackberry
7. Colorado Blue Spruce
10. Late Bloom Lilac
2. Hybrid Willow
5. Ponderosa Pine
8. Black Hills Spruce
11. American Plum
3. Sugar Maple
6. Eastern Red Cedar
9. Red Osier Dogwood
12. Nannyberry
White Oak
Siouxland Poplar (cottonwood)
Norway Spruce
American Hazelnut
Black Walnut
Silver Maple
Autumn Blaze Maple
Red Pine
Austrian Pine
Elderberry
Amur Maple
Bur Oak
American (Redmond) Linden
Discovery Elm
Tannebaum Pine
Scotch Pine
Kentucky Coffeetree
Greenspire Linden
Accolade Elm
Serviceberry
Corktree
American (Princeton) Elm
Meyer Spruce
Black Chokeberry Autumn Magic Chokeberry