Native Plants

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

rate this answer

Wednesday - March 23, 2011
From: Garrison, NY
Region: Northeast
Topic: Trees
Title: Trees for privacy and filtering dust in NY
Answered by: Anne Bossart
QUESTION:
I live on a very busy, DUSTY, dirt road in Putnam County NY. (zip code 10524) What is the best, fast growing evergreen that I can use for dust control and privacy? I would prefer something that requires little or no maintenance and can hold up being planted very close to the road. My house is about 25 feet from the road. I would like to be able to open my front windows without road dust blowing in!!! Thank You!!ANSWER:
Are you sure you want an evergreen?
Fast growing is always a challenge as most fast growing plants don't live long and most evergreens will grow to be very large at the base, ultimately eating up much of the space between your house and the road or encroaching on the road allowance and any overhead power/telephone lines. Many evergreens are not tolerant of winter road salt either.
So the only evergreen suggestion we could make would be Thuja occidentalis (Arborvitae) which is commonly known as cedar in the north. The plants can be inexpensively obtained and planted close enough together to create a hedge that could be kept pruned. If you have deer in your area, though, they will eat it bare as high as they can reach.
Seeing as how dust and privacy are not as much of a priority in the wintertime, why don't you consider multi-stemmed small deciduous trees or large shrubs? Their branch structure and leaves would give you the privacy and dust (and noise) reduction you seek in the summertime. They also could be planted in a more imaginative way than a green wall and could provide the added benefits of flowers for you and fruit for the birds. Plus, you get a fresh set of leaves every spring!
Here are some small trees to consider:
Amelanchier laevis (Allegheny service-berry)
Cercis canadensis (Eastern redbud)
Cornus drummondii (Roughleaf dogwood)
and some large shrubs:
Calycanthus floridus (Eastern sweetshrub)
Clethra alnifolia (Coastal sweet pepperbush)
Physocarpus opulifolius (Atlantic ninebark)
Viburnum dentatum (Southern arrowwood)
Viburnum opulus var. americanum (American cranberry bush)
Using a combination of these plants you could have a "hedgerow" with flowers in spring and summer, fall colour, summer fragrance and the wildlife benefits of cover and food. Plus it would meet the practical requirements of your situation.
More Trees Questions
Trees with non-invasive roots or tops in Newhall CA
November 07, 2011 - We would like to plant a tree with noninvasive roots near our garden wall and concrete driveway in a grassy area in the front yard facing west. This spot is very sunny in the afternoon with automatic ...
view the full question and answer
Plants for area around salt water pool
June 27, 2013 - What are some plants that will grow around my salt water pool where there is some salt water runoff occasionally.
view the full question and answer
Dry browning leaves on Monterrey Oak from San Antonio
August 08, 2013 - I have a Monterey Oak that was planted four years ago and was doing great until the last two weeks. It has turned brown and the ends of the branches are very dry and brittle.
The root flare was cov...
view the full question and answer
Can a mustang grape and an oak coexist in Austin
November 04, 2009 - I have a healthy mustang grape vine growing on an oak in my yard. While the vine provides plenty of good food and a pleasant environment for many birds throughout the year, I feel it is overtaking the...
view the full question and answer
Small to medium drought-tolerant trees for Southern California
June 01, 2012 - I am looking for drought tolerant trees to line one side of our 70 foot driveway. We live in Southern California. Currently, we have queen palms, but I would like something more native or drought to...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |