While many people love various things about fall in Wisconsin (football, apple cider, cooler days, etc.), one thing most of us can agree on is the lovely color the leaves turn. However, a drawback to the leaves turning is that they then fall, leaving a definite lack of privacy. If you are someone who likes year round privacy, or you just like seeing green on a dreary, gray winter day, the following trees are for you!
Douglas Fir: Though often featured as lone trees, they are also lovely in groups and make for a great natural fence. While Douglas Firs do not like hot, dry winds, they do amazingly well in moist soil. These trees have a softer texture and come in a variety of colors. The blue-green shade is considered the most attractive and the hardiest. Douglas Firs can grow up to 80 feet when planted in consistently moist and well drained soil.
White Pine: Depending on the variety of White Pine, these trees can grow 50 to 80 feet tall and 20 to 40 feet wide. The White Pine also comes in a columnar variety for smaller yards, or areas that don’t have a lot of room. The columnar varieties max out at 20 feet high and 14 feet wide. White Pines are fast growing and have a soft billowy texture. This is often a nice departure from the more rigid look of other evergreens.
Concolor Fir: Also known as White Fir, these trees can adapt to a variety of growing conditions. The Concolor Fir grows best with even, moist soil that has good drainage. The Concolor Fir has unique needles that are blue-gray with a white luster. The branches are tiered and conical in shape, making it an excellent specimen for privacy. These trees can grow to 70 feet in the proper soil.
Norway Spruce: This evergreen variety is often easy to spot. The Norway Spruce has the pyramid shape that is typical of many conifers. However, the horizontal branches reach upward, allowing for the stems to hang down creating a beautiful, graceful aesthetic. This look is very distinctive to the Norway Spruce. In well drained soil, the Norway Spruce can grow 50 to 60 feet tall and 25 to 30 feet wide. However, the more popular varieties may be on the smaller side.
False Cypress: A wonderful addition to any winter garden is the False Cypress. These trees come in many varieties, shapes and colors (blue-gray to golden-green). They are also great for privacy. Some varieties of False Cypress can be trimmed like a hedge, others can be allowed to reach their full, natural potential. The False Cypress prefers well-drained soil.
American Arborvitae: This is a common go-to for privacy and landscaping. Also known as Eastern Arborvitae, these trees can often live for several hundred years. The most popular varieties grow 10 to 15 feet tall. These trees are durable and adaptable. Note – deer enjoy them, so be sure to wrap their trunks in the winter or spray with deer repellent.
Yew: The Yew is often called the tree of immortality. There are ancient specimens of Yew that have lived for thousands of years. The dark foliage with red berries is a beautiful and often welcome sight in winter. These trees are great for landscaping, and provide shelter for birds in harsher months. The Yew prefers well-drained or dry soil.
No matter what evergreen you choose for your landscaping needs, you can be sure that it will offer both color and privacy during the long winter months that come with living in the Brookfield and Waukesha area. Contact us today with your questions or landscaping and tree trimming needs.