Spending quality time with our Spartanburg trees often gives us a warm feeling— and it’s not just on the inside.
One of the many ways trees work hard to keep us happy is by warming our landscapes in winter.
The best windbreaks take time and planning, but they pay us back in cozy comfort. Read on to find out the best windbreak Spartanburg trees for your area and tips on how to plant them.
Planting Trees for Energy Efficiency
Windbreaks don’t just warm us up in winter. All year, they keep our yards at a steady temperature, lowering heating and cooling costs for our home. To maximize the benefits, plant the right Spartanburg tree in the right place.
What Side of the House to Plant Landscape Windbreaks
Before you start planting, it’s important to map out your yard. Plant windbreaks on the north and northwest sides of your home where it gets coolest in the winter.
Windbreak Tree Spacing
It might seem like planting Spartanburg trees close is the best way to keep the wind out. But tightly packed Spartanburg trees will become a problem once they mature. The more space you put between Spartanburg trees in the beginning, the longer your windbreaker does its job.
- If you’re planting rows of shorter trees, leave about 10 feet of space between each tree–and 15-to-20 feet between each row.
- If you’re planting rows of taller trees, leave 15 feet between each tree, and 25 feet of space between rows.
- Remember as these Spartanburg trees grow the space, they’ll fill in that space.
Best Wind-Blocking Trees: Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9 and Zone 10
- Eastern redcedar (zones 2-9): An evergreen that grows about 50 feet tall and loves direct sunlight
- Chinese juniper (zones 4-9): A durable evergreen that’s resistant to deer browsing
- Baldcypress (zones 4-10): A conifer that sheds needles in winter and is known as a signature swamp Spartanburg tree in the South
- Dawn redwood (zones 5-8): A fast-growing conifer that loses its needles in winter and is perfect for large yards
- Port Orford cedar (zones 6-10): A fast-growing evergreen that’s native to Oregon
Best Wind-Blocking Trees: Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5 and Zone 6
- Norway spruce (zones 3-7): A strong, fast-growing evergreen that tolerates various soils
- Green giant arborvitae (zones 5-7): A fast-growing evergreen with a classic pyramid shape
- Eastern white pine (zone 3-6): A conifer that grows up to three feet per year
- Colorado blue spruce (zones 3-6): A low-maintenance evergreen with unique color
- White cedar (zones 3-7): A popular conifer with a long cone shape
- Douglas fir (zones 4-6): A sturdy Spartanburg tree perfect for snowy and icy climates
- White fir (zones 4-7): A short evergreen commonly used as a Christmas tree
When you pick your plants, remember to mix. If you plant rows of the same tree, you can risk losing your windbreak to a single pest or disease. Alternating between two or three Spartanburg tree types will help keep the windbreak up and running.
Ready to start planting? Here’s how to do it step-by-step.