What is a Fast Growing Evergreen?

Fast-growing evergreen trees are valued in landscaping for their ability to fill spaces quickly with green foliage. Most evergreens provide shade and have a pleasant scent. For a quick privacy screen, fast-growing evergreens fit the requirements.

Benefits

• Fast-growing evergreens provide privacy when planted as a screen. Noise can be controlled or reduced as well with an evergreen screen. Another benefit of fast-growing evergreens is to provide a wind break when planted on the north and west sides of homes to act as barriers against cold winter winds.

Types

• Firs, spruce and pine all have species that are fast-growing. The Leyland cypress is popular due to its thick foliage. The Norway spruce is suited well for shade and landscaping specimens. Arborvitae Green Giant grows in almost any soil condition and has a pyramidal shape. The dawn redwood grows in wet areas.

Disadvantages

• Fast-growing evergreen trees are a softer wood therefore more likely to be weak and short-lived. Some evergreens are prone to disease and insects.