United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service		 Kansas Go to Accessibility Information
Skip to Page Content





Keys to a Successful Windbreak

by Mark A. Janzen, Plant Materials Specialist
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
Salina, Kansas

Windbreaks are an important asset to our farmsteads and to the landscape. It takes many years of hard work to successfully establish and achieve the benefits of a windbreak. Benefits may include farmstead or livestock protection, wildlife cover, or add aesthetics to the landscape.

There are several key items that can help in the establishment of an effective windbreak. They include:

  1. Start the planning process for your windbreak early. The process can take up to a year or longer to properly plan and prepare a windbreak site. It is important to avoid areas that have buried or overhead utilities.


  2. Prepare the planting site at least 12 months prior to planting trees. This is especially true if the planting site is in sod. Initial tillage should be to a depth of at least 12 inches. Subsequent tillage can be completed at a shallower depth. Keep the site free of weeds. In erosion susceptible areas, a cover crop may need to be planted.


  3. Select tree and shrubs adapted to the planting site and for the intended purpose. Trees that need special care or that are susceptible to pests and disease should be avoided.


  4. Plant trees only under favorable conditions. Avoid hot, windy days for planting. Keep roots of plants damp during planting and don’t plant into frozen soil. Root slurry is helpful in maintaining root moisture during planting.


  5. Plant trees at the proper depth into firm, moist soil conditions.


  6. Water trees after planting to help remove air pockets and maintain root zone moisture levels.


  7. Control weeds by using weed moisture barrier, mechanical, or chemical methods. Weed pressure reduces available moisture and limits tree growth. Remember to follow all chemical label requirements.


  8. Follow-up maintenance is very important. Dead or diseased trees need to be removed and replaced with healthy trees.

Although not guaranteed, the success of a properly planned and prepared tree planting site significantly increases the establishment success of your windbreak planting.

For additional information and further assistance about planning a windbreak, go to your local U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Service Center and talk to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) or conservation district staff.

For more information about NRCS programs, visit the Kansas NRCS Web site at www.ks.nrcs.usda.gov.

This article is also available in Microsoft Word format.

Keys to a Successful Windbreak (DOC; 39 KB)

< Back to Conservation Editions - Fiscal Year 2006 Index

Last Modified: 08/20/2008