How to Plant a Windbreak of Australian Native Plants
Windbreaks protect land, homes, crops and livestock from strong winds. They are tall, dense walls of vegetation erected perpendicular to the prevailing winds. They reduce winds to a distance 10 times their height. Plant the rows on the west, north and northeast side of your house. The more rows you have, the more protection you have from the wind. The Australian trees and shrubs selected for this windbreak are evergreen and can be grown in moderate climates, such as the southwest United States, and are drought tolerant. The amount of trees needed depends on the size of your property. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Shovel
- Herbicide
- Rototiller
- Peat moss
- Acacia longifolia
- Acacia melanoxylon
- Eucalyptus camaldulensis
Instructions
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1
Remove all weeds and grasses from the planting area so that the new trees and shrubs have no competition for moisture. Use an herbicide or remove the weeds with a shovel.
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2
Till the soil using a rototiller before planting your windbreak. As of December 2009, rototillers can be rented for $65 to $100 per day at local tool rental shops.
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Remove debris such as rocks and roots that are unearthed by the tilling process.
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4
Plant Acacia longifolia as your first row. This is the shrub row, which protects the lower sections of the windbreak. Dig your holes for the shrubs 1 1/2 times the size of the pot. Plant each plant 12 to 14 feet apart. Throw 2 to 3 shovels of peat moss into the hole and then back fill it, patting down the soil around the plant firmly. .
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5
Plant Eucalyptus camaldulensis in front of the first row, again in a hole 1 1/2 times the size of the pot and adding peat. This second row is the tall part of your windbreak. These are very tall, growing up to 70 feet high. Plant them 14 to 20 feet from the second row and 16 feet apart. Stagger this row between the other two rows so that no wind tunnels form.
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6
Plant Acacia melanoxylon, a medium tree that grows to 45 feet high, in the same way you planted the other two rows. Plant the third row 14 to 20 feet from the second row. Space the trees 18 feet apart. The location of this tree behind taller ones prevents turbulent eddies from forming in high winds.
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7
Water all your new plantings, making sure the deepest roots receive water and the rootball is soaked.
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Tips & Warnings
Fence in your windbreak when it is young to keep deer and other animals from eating it.
