“Serving Orchard Ridge for Over 50 Years”

     WINDBREAKS FOR WISCONSIN
 
With reports of increased utility bills looming this winter, individuals may want to investigate ways of utilizing vegetation to not only
improve the aesthetics of the landscape, but to help save money on the utility bill. 
 
In winter, you can channel cold winter winds away from your home with windbreaks. The protection provided by a windbreak depends on its height, density, branching patterns and placement in relation to the house. Studies indicate that maximum wind protection occurs at a distance of four to six times the height of the windbreak. Therefore, if your trees will grow 30 feet tall, plant them 120 to 180 feet from the house. A windbreak that has some air spaces for the wind to pass through is better than a solid windbreak because a solid structure will create strong wind eddies on the 'downwind' side of the planting, somewhat like the spaces in a snow fence
prevent the gusting that would occur with a solid wall.
 
Most winter winds come from the north or west so that shelter plantings are most helpful on these sides of the house. Evergreen trees and shrubs provide more protection than leafless branches of deciduous plantings. Some deciduous material planted next to the evergreen windbreak can help minimize the "wall" effect.
 
Planting a variety of the following evergreens will provide the desired design for a windbreak: Abies concolor (concolor fir), Picea omorika (Serbian spruce),  Pinus cembra (Swiss stone pine), Pinus flexilis  (Limber pine), Pseudotsuga  menziesii (Douglas fir), Juniperus chinenesis (Chinese Juniper), Picea glauca var. densata (Black Hills spruce), and Picea abies (Norway spruce).
 
For help with all your garden and landscape questions, please contact the Dane County UW-Extension office at (608) 224-3721 or e-mail homehort@co.dane.wi.us.

Revised:  March 30, 2003