Is a deciduous fast growing shade or windbreak tree that can grow up to 8 ft per year when young,
and after 7 years top out at 40 ft. No competition from grass and weeds and adequate moisture is necessary for rapid growth.
One row planted 3 to 6 ft apart will give an effective windbreak, screen and
snow catch in just a couple of years. More rows with wider spacing would be even
better. The Austrees to the right in the picture are 4 years old from a
potted plant.
. The branches are very flexible and not brittle like other willows so we rarely see any branch breaking in high winds
or ice. They do not spread by suckers or seed like other willows can.
At this time the long-term life of these plants are not known but we have seen
some 20 years old and they still look good. I always suggest planting
evergreen trees along with these so you do have better windbreak protection in
the winter and long term.
We do like to plant one of these 6 ft from the last evergreen in our windbreak rows and some in the middle of our newly planted windbreak. The buck deer in the fall will come into your windbreak and “attack” these 8ft tall flexible trees and destroy them instead of your valuable evergreens.
The below tree has had this happen. The following spring cut all of them off 1 ft from the ground and they will re-grow and be ready in the fall for the next round of buck deer rubs, do this every year. After the evergreens are 8 ft+
tall completely cut off the austree in the fall, apply roundup to the stump and remove them from your windbreak.
These Austrees had 1 inch of ice on them.
After the ice melted, they spring back up and no branches were broken.
