Top 3 Fast-Growing Trees For Instant Landscapes

 

 

It's a common dilemma for homeowners across the country — you want a lush landscape with shade, but you don't want to have to wait a lifetime for tree saplings to grow into their immense, leafy glory. Fortunately, you have options. And by making the right foliage choices for your yard, you'll reap the benefits of a beautiful landscape in no time!

 

 

Top 3 fast-growing trees for your property:

Maple Trees

Want a tree that'll proliferate and fit in with a wide range of outdoor decor and landscape schemes? Maple trees generally rank among the faster-growing trees (they typically grow more than a foot each year and develop leaves early), and their classic look makes them an ideal choice for property owners with a wide range of style preferences. Maple trees offer vivid green foliage in spring and summer, transforming into bright, visually-appealing red and yellow hues in the fall. They are bare in the winter, but those in snowier climates can enjoy how the stately trees complement the white landscape.

While there are nearly 200 specific species, maple trees come in three main varieties

The sugar maple (Acer saccharum)

The Red Maple (Acer rubrum)

The silver maple (Acer saccharinum)

Most maple trees will grow well in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 9, tolerating sun and shade. The exception is the sugar maple tree, rated for zones 3 through 8. Some maple trees will reach tremendous heights (as much as 100 feet tall!), while smaller varieties will average about 10 feet.

Poplar Trees

Another great fast-growing tree option is the poplar. Poplar trees grow stunningly fast, between 3 and 5 feet a year!

Poplar trees are renowned for their tall, upward-reaching beauty (many grow to over 90 feet). They also achieve vivid color changes in the fall and instantly add majestic beauty to many landscapes. In Autumn, their bright hues span a wide range, from yellows, blues, and whites to pinks, purples, and shades of red.

Among the most popular fast-growing poplar trees are tulip poplars, which sprout tulip-shaped blossoms. The trees are conveniently hardy in zones 4 through 9, are drought-resistant, and do well in both clay-based and sandy soils.

Weeping Willow Trees

Many people are surprised to learn that weeping willow trees also rank among some of the fastest-growing trees for North American landscapes. Weeping willows are among the quickest-growing shade trees in the world, often growing over 24 inches a year! They are more demanding for various properties because of their dreamy, peaceful downward-hanging branches that create hidden canopies. Weeping willow trees are also beneficial because they are among the first to gain foliage during spring and the last to lose their leaves in fall and winter.

Most weeping willow trees will do well in USDA zones 3 through 10. They are hardy and flood-tolerant; many will grow to majestic heights between 50 and 80 feet. Another fast-growing option is the black willow tree (with black bark and bushy green foliage), which does not have as much of an overhanging effect as standard weeping willow trees but thrives in various conditions.

 

Create a Lush Landscape While You Wait

Even trees with the fastest-growing track records will come with some wait time. In the few short years that you're watching your trees grow into tall beauties, there are some other things you can do to achieve an instantly entire landscape. For example, planting moss as ground cover in and around the tree beds (and other parts of your property as you see fit) can give you the green lushness you desire right away, and it can also help make your outdoor areas look more relaxed. Moss also visually complements maple, poplar, and weeping willow trees.

And if you need help deciding which trees you want, try multiple! We offer a fast-growing tree package that includes three different tree varieties. Contact our team today!