July 24, 2020

Image of pink crape myrtle tree in full bloom against a bright sky.

Your outdoor spaces and the overall exterior of your home is important for curb appeal, but it’s also another space for living and entertaining. Many homeowners enjoy spending the warmer months outdoors but want privacy as well as beauty and comfort. Trees are ideal for balancing the need for privacy with the aesthetic appeal homeowners are looking for, but trees can take years to grow. Fortunately fast growing trees are the answer for many homeowners.

Why Choose Fast Growing Privacy Trees?

Fences are fine, but they don’t offer the same aesthetic as natural elements. Trees are the perfect natural element for shade, curb appeal, and privacy, but many types of trees take years to grow to the size that homeowners are looking for. When you want to add a beautiful element to your yard and get the benefit of privacy and shade, fast growing trees are the best solution.

What are Some Choices for Fast Growing Privacy Trees?

There are plenty of choices for fast growing privacy trees, depending on your budget, the style you prefer, the climate you live in, and how large you want the trees to ultimately get.

Crape Myrtle

Crape myrtles are popular in the South, but they do grow in multiple areas. They grow at a rate of up to five feet a year and have red or white blossoms, depending on the variety. These trees are very showy.

White Pine

White pine trees are evergreens and thrive in many different soils and climates. They’re ideal for privacy or creating a windbreak. White pines will grow large very quickly, so they’ll need an open location with plenty of space and sun.

Bald Cypress

Bald cypress trees are good for damp areas and will grow in shade. The needles turn orange in the fall, and when they drop they reveal an attractive fruit. These trees are excellent for rainy areas.

Tulip Poplar

Tulip poplar trees are members of the magnolia family, with blossoms in the spring and leaves that turn a beautiful yellow in the fall. Insects and diseases aren’t common, but these trees are susceptible to storm damage.

Elberta Peach

In just a few years, the Elberta peach tree can reach fifteen feet. It self-pollinates and produces plenty of fruit. These trees do best along the sunny edges of your yard. Fruit trees do need to be winterized to survive.

Pin Oak

The pin oak is the exception to the rule of slow growing oak trees. A pin oak can grow two feet a year. A pin oak needs at least six hours of direct sun daily, and the acorns will attract deer and squirrels.

Red Maple

Red maples are ornamental trees that are easy to establish, grow quickly, and show off bright yellow or red leaves in the fall. A red maple produces pollen early each spring which makes them bee friendly.

Quaking Aspen

Quaking aspen trees have white bark and brilliant fall colors. They grow two feet a year. The roots are aggressive; therefore, the tree is best planted away from buildings. These trees can reach more than fifty feet at maturity.

Northern Catalpa

The Northern catalpa is another showy tree with a twisting trunk, white flowers, dangling pods, and tropical looking leaves. This is another tree that will do well in shade, but is also prone to aggressive roots and will need to be carefully placed.

River Birch

The river birch has the peeling bark symbolic of birch trees. It will grow at a rate of three feet a year and does best in direct sunlight.

When choosing the right fast growing privacy trees, it is essential to speak to a landscape expert about your property. The right company can balance your needs with the characteristics of the trees to create the perfect outdoor space for your family. If you’re in the Ann Arbor area and interested in planting some quick-growing trees on your property, contact Twin Oaks Landscape today!