Fast Growing Privacy Trees for Calgary?

[BigNumbers]

Hey CP,

We built a new home and I am now working on finalizing my landscaping. Looking for some fast growing, privacy trees. I'd used columnar aspens at a previous house, but don't love them as a tree...

I'd ideally like some kind of fast-growing, narrow-canopy spruce tree, to ensure more all-year privacy, but I am just not much of a plant/tree guy... Hoping to get some advice from the broader group!

[burn_this_city]

None of the conifers grow very quickly, compared with the poplars/aspens.

[Fuzz]

I've got some cedars that have done really well. If you can find some that are already 5-10 feet tall they might fit the bill.

I'm not a fan of spruce or pine as 30 years later the are big, overtake everything, destroy your grass etc.

[Northendzone]

Columnar aspens, although their canopy is narrow.

[Nancy]

I regret the columnar aspens now, they are too goddamn tall now, soon we will have to start hiring someone to clean our eavestroughs every year, they are vulnerable to disease, they have short lives, and I will probably have to pay someone to take them down before I die.

That said, I am not sure there are any other options. I am surprised Fuzz has gotten cedars to survive, I thought they had to be covered in winter. I am in a colder, windier area of the city, so I don't think they would have worked here. Columnar scotch pines are something I'd wondered about, but they are expensive and slow growing, and I don't think I've seen a real life example of them used as a privacy screen.

Best of luck!

[EVERLAST]

Whatever you do the biggest difference in growing trees fast is making sure you have them sitting in mulch. We added 6 "of wood mulch and compost last year and every tree we have in the yard grew 3 feet.

Oaks, ash, columners, pines, cedars and several willow trees just shot straight up......close 12 trees total.

[Ducay]

I'd also recommend mixing up the species in the planting. Not just for aesthetics, but also provides a bit of a hedge (pun intended) against potential diseases or issues with the columnar aspen. You can mix in some Swedish aspens and perhaps even a columnar spruce or two.

Wouldn't recommend cedars - they're not fans of our climate. Some similar looking juniper species do well, but they're not making giant gorgeous hedgerows like the can in Vancouver.

[Nancy]

Columnar crabs and Sutherland Caraganas were a couple other tree species that used to get recommended. I would steer clear of the Sutherland Caraganas as I have seen plenty of examples of them collapsing under snow or ice load once they get too big.

[Fuzz]

Maybe this is why mine have done well...I have done most of these. So ya, maybe not great in your application.

Cedars grow well in the Zone 4 environments typically found in British Columbia. If you are determined to grow cedars rather than the similar but hardier junipers, there are a few things you can do to help them to survive and thrive in Calgary’s climate.

• Plant cedars in sheltered areas away from the wind. Hot winds in summer and cold winter winds can quickly kill off cedars.
• Cedars do better when planted against houses.
• Cedars do not make good hedges or borders because it exposes them to the elements.
• During the summer, cedars need a lot of water. If the tips of the foliage start to turn brown, they’re already beginning to die off. In the fall, give cedars a thorough watering to prepare them for winter.
• If you can’t live without cedars, the hardiest variety is the Holmstrap cedar.

https://www.fivestarlandscaping.ca/h...garys-climate/