5 FASTEST-GROWING DECIDUOUS TREES FOR PRIVACY
If you’ve just moved into a newly-developed neighborhood, or there’s been a new house built that can see into your backyard, you might be wondering how you can add some privacy to your backyard. Trees are one of the best ways to add privacy, but many take a long time to grow—and you don’t want to wait for ten years to get some privacy!
Luckily, there are quite a few deciduous trees that grow quite fast here in Indianapolis. You can add a few of these trees to your yard—and you’ll have plenty of shade and privacy in just a couple of growing seasons.
Red maples can be a little smaller than silver maples but still grow very fast and have beautiful color.
SILVER MAPLE
Silver maples are one of the fastest-growing maples out there, pushing up more than 2 feet per year. These deciduous trees also have a very vigorous root system and should be planted a minimum of 10' away from sidewalks, driveways, homes, and sewer lines. They will mature between 50-80' tall and have a spread of 35-50'. Silver maples prefer plenty of moisture and do need to be pruned regularly to prevent ice damage in winter storms. Silver maples need about 4 hours of sun per day and will benefit from some dappled shade in the afternoon.
RED MAPLE
Red maples can be a little smaller than silver maples but still grow very fast and have beautiful color, with red-tinted leaves in summer, deep red or yellow-orange leaves in fall, and red stems in winter. It will usually put on 1-2' of growth per year and should mature to 40-60' tall with a spread of 40'. These deciduous trees also need plenty of water, and also have a very robust root system. Red Maples like full sun, 4-6 hours per day.
TULIP TREE
The tulip tree, sometimes called tulip poplar, is a deciduous tree that grows very fast and has vibrant green leaves that turn yellow in the fall. It has yellowy-green flowers in the spring. It can mature from 70-90' tall, with a 40' spread. Tulip trees may put on more than 2' of height per year. The stems of the tulip tree have a spicy-sweet scent that many people enjoy. Because it is so hardy, it is commonly used as a boulevard or street tree across the US. With consistent moisture, and a full sun location, this tree will be a joy for years to come!
LONDON PLANETREE
London planetree is a fast-growing deciduous tree that gets very large, reaching heights of 75-100' tall and a spread of 80'. It may grow up to 2' every year. London planetrees will do best in a location with at least 4 hours of direct sun every day. They are tolerant of urban pollution and handle transplanting stress quite well, so you could start with older saplings. The leaves are very large, up to 10' long, and their bark is particularly interesting; it peels and flakes reddish-brown flakey scale-like bark to reveal creamy white under layers. Also, goldfinches love planetrees!
PRIVET SHRUBS
Privet isn't a tree, but it is one of the fastest-growing shrubs in North America. It can grow up to 3' in one year! A privet is a fantastic option for privacy hedges. It matures around 12' tall and can be up to 4-6' wide. Privet is semi-evergreen, which means it may drop its leaves like a deciduous tree in late winter, but then new leaves will not be far behind. Privet will provide more privacy year-round than many other deciduous hedge options. It can handle hard pruning and can be shaped to your preference. Privet prefers 4-6 hours of sun per day.
With the options above, you can have privacy in your yard within just 1-2 growing seasons! You can plant larger saplings, which will speed up your privacy screening, but remember that older saplings may take a little longer to establish after transplanting than younger saplings. Come see our landscape specialists to learn more about creating a private retreat in your yard.