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 In
Illinois, the high winds we experience throughout the year can make
it cold and miserable outside. An article by Christopher Enroth
says, “this is why many Illinoisians plant windbreaks around their
homes to keep that biting wind from causing a drafty house, prevent
drifting snow, and make being outside tolerable.”
Enroth provides suggestions for creating successful windbreaks such
as spacing out plants, removing wrapping around the root ball, not
planting too deep and having diverse plants.
In the article, “Consider Installing a Windbreak,” John Woodmansee
has more advice. Woodmansee says, “the location of the windbreak is
not just determined by prevailing winds and the space to buildings.
Consider power lines, road visibility, snowdrift patterns (e.g.,
windbreak should be at least 100 feet from a driveway), buried power
lines, septic absorption fields, and other uses of land that may
conflict with the windbreak.”
Something else Woodmansee says you should think about
is spacing. The spacing varies depending on the species of the tree.
For example, Woodmansee says, “In-row spacing for most species is
from 8 to 16 feet, with a between-row spacing of 12-20 feet.
Twin-row high-density spacing should have a between-row spacing of
4-12 feet. Each row should have trees planted so that they align
with the center open space of the prior row.”
When plants are used to create privacy, screening plants can help
define and give purpose to a space. Homeowners may wish to screen a
particular area or transparency in the landscape, creating interest
in what lies beyond.
Before setting up the landscape, create a wish list of what you want
to accomplish. Identify areas where you want to relax, entertain, or
create a private space. The landscape’s function is important and
should not be neglected in the design. Think about where the focal
points will be from both inside and outside the residence.
Ways Native plants and shrubs can be used in the landscape
include:
• Creating privacy or a sense of enclosure
• Defining boundaries
• Screening unwanted views
• Using native shrubs in the landscape, or in combination with
cultivated plants, enhances natural surroundings.
In creating privacy, you may want to shelter some items from view,
like a poolside or an outdoor eating area. Using diagrams, overlay
your base map and think through design aspects. Consider what you
want to conceal in the landscape. The view of the neighbor’s house
may be a consideration.
To be a good neighbor, before planting, investigate if plants are
invasive or have a spread that may encroach on their side of the
property line.
Investigate what plants are available in your area according to your
hardiness zone and create screened views with the right plant in the
right place.
Select plants based not only on their hardiness and
cultural requirements but also their function. A variety of plant
sizes can be used to screen a view. The palette of plants available
may go beyond the usual thinking. Enjoying the outdoors with a
background of well-planned plants creates a nice surrounding of
seclusion and offers opportunities for exploration.
Additionally, creating privacy can be an important consideration
especially in more built up environments. High walls and fences are
not the only option. Choosing the right plant is also important.
The fastest growing shrubs and bushes for creating privacy include
cypresses, arborvitae, pines, privets, laurels, cotoneasters and
holly. However, each shrub or bush has advantages and disadvantages
that must be considered when deciding whether they are the best
option.
Cypresses can grow so quickly, they can get out of control, so they
might not be the most suitable long term choice for smaller
residential gardens. Since they can grow up to 40 meters tall,
natural native cypresses may be the better option.
The arborvitae is a popular hedging or border plant for privacy.
These are hybrid plants and can grow up to three feet per year in
the right conditions. While it can be the right choice for privacy,
use it with caution when you have a smaller space.
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With pines, some are fast growing, while others are
considerably slower in growing to maturity. Pines are a great option
for a mixed privacy border or windbreak. Fast growing pines include
the Alepo, white pine and loblolly pine. Like with other evergreens,
fast growing pines should only be planted in the appropriate
environment since they can grow to very large sizes.
Privets were once a very popular hedging choice. In recent years,
they have decreased in popularity but can still be a good option for
privacy. They are relatively easy to keep in check and can be a good
choice when a neat and orderly hedge is required for privacy.
Laurels like the cherry laurel are another popular hedging choice
that grow quickly. They can create a hedge up to five meters high.
Other laurels that could be considered for hedging are the Laurel
Etna and Laurel Caucasia.
Cotoneasters provide excellent options for informal privacy borders
or formal hedging. They are dense and attractive, growing quickly to
provide a screen and interest with blossoms and red berries. Some
varieties work well as hedging but can also work well as stand alone
plants in mixed varieties. Others spread over walls or fences to
provide additional privacy.
A wide range of Hollies works well for providing
backyard privacy. Some traditional hollies provide spiky leaves,
which can enhance garden security and red berries in winter.
However, not all hollies are spiky. Some create neater planting or
hedging. It may be worthwhile to look at the variety available. For
example, a popular option for privacy hedging or screens is Nelly
Stevens Holly.
See these examples at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLYy_W_fK_c
Whether you decide to create a windbreak or provide privacy around
your house or yard, remember that plants, trees and shrubs may be a
good option.
[Angela Reiners]
Enroth, Christopher. “Picking the Right Tree for your Windbreak.” 17
June 2022.
<https://extension.illinois.edu/
blogs/good-growing/2022-06-17-
picking-right-tree-your-windbreak>
Holsinger, Andrew. “Build Privacy With Plants for Secret Gardens.”
https://extension.illinois.edu/
news-releases/build-privacy-
plants-secret-gardens 21 Aug. 2023.
The Morton Arboretum. “Native Shrubs of the
Midwest for the Home Landscape.”
<https://extension.illinois.edu/sites/
default/files/native-shrubs-midwest
_morton_arboretum.pdf> Woodmansee, John.
“Consider Installing a Windbreak.” 1 Sept. 2023.
https://extension.purdue.edu/
news/county/whitley/2023/09/
consider-installing-a-windbreak.html#
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