Fast Growing Trees
My Favorite Trees For Privacy and Shade

We all want fast growing trees...we want that shade and/or privacy now!

However, some trees just grow faster than others, and this might be important for a variety of reasons:

• You are trying to create a screen so you would like fast growing privacy trees, typically evergreens.
• Shade is a priority...larger trees will block the sun more efficiently.
• You just want a more mature landscape.

*Note - sometimes fast growing trees are weaker plants and shorter lived, so be careful which ones you select. An example of this would be the Silver Maple.

"Fast growing" is a relative phrase. You can always look up a tree's rate of growth, but typically they will get to their mature size much sooner than others.

Here are some fast growing trees that I would recommend because they are also beautiful and hardy. Be sure to check each tree's plant zone to make sure it grows in your zone.

Fast Growing Shade Trees

• Pear 'Chanticleer' - gets to be about 15' - 20' wide with beautiful fall color. Early spring flowers. Pear trees look great lining a driveway or out in the open. 'Chanticleer' is one of the narrower trees and should be considered if you are tight on space in a particular area of your landscape.
• Pear 'Holmford' (the new Bradford Pear) - same as above but much wider...35' - 40' wide
• Elm - buy such varieties as as 'New Horizon' and 'Regal' which are claimed to be resistant to Dutch Elm Disease. I had an Elm tree on my property in Virginia. It's quite lovely with its pendulous branches...very estate'like!
• Honey Locust - golden fall color with delicate foliage.
• Red Maple ' October Glory' - one of my favorites! Fall color is outstanding. This is one of the trees you see in the fall that are breathtaking. Its canopy is oval in youth and gets to be wide and graceful as it ages.
• Weeping Willow - for large spaces...looks great near water.
• Willow Oak

Fast Growing Evergreen Trees

• Leyland Cypress - a very fast growing evergreen. This is not one of my favorites, but if you really need quick screening, this will work. Its shape is not as classic as other evergreens. Plant in front of these trees with ornamental trees if you have the space to make the pnting more attractive.
• Deodar Cedar - a beautiful, graceful evergreen - not for cold climates
• Easter Red Cedar - another choice...very hardy. These are very common and can often be see at wood edges or along highways.

Would you like to read about some of my other favorite landscape trees? If so, please visit the following:

Evergreen Trees
Shade Trees
Flowering Trees

Some of these may or may not be fast growing, but they all have wonderful features. And they are not really THAT much slower!

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