If you’ve recently moved into a new construction home in Calgary, you might be considering ways to enhance privacy and provide shade for your property. Fast-growing trees are a smart choice, especially given Calgary’s unique climate, where cold winters and dry spells create specific landscaping challenges. The following guide explores some of the best tree species to plant for privacy and shade in Calgary, along with tips for maintenance and care.
Why Choose Fast-Growing Trees for Your Calgary Property?
Fast-growing trees provide significant advantages, particularly for new construction homeowners who want to see results quickly. Privacy trees help create a natural screen around your property, enhancing both aesthetics and security, while shade trees reduce energy costs by keeping homes cool in the summer. In Calgary’s hardiness Zone 3b, choosing the right species is essential for both climate resilience and low maintenance.
Criteria for Choosing Fast-Growing Trees
When selecting trees for new construction properties, consider the following:
Growth Rate: Trees that grow quickly provide privacy and shade sooner, especially beneficial for open properties.
Hardiness: Calgary’s winters require trees that can withstand temperatures as low as -37°C.
Drought Tolerance: Trees that thrive despite Calgary’s dry spells reduce the need for constant watering.
Maintenance: Low-maintenance species are ideal for new homeowners seeking a natural, hassle-free landscape.
Top Fast-Growing Trees for New Homes in Calgary
Hybrid poplars are some of the fastest-growing trees available, with annual growth rates up to 8 feet in optimal conditions.
Benefits: Hybrid poplars offer dense privacy and substantial shade, reaching maturity within 20-50 years.
Considerations: Hybrid poplars are moderately drought-tolerant once established but require regular watering in the first few years. Their extensive root systems need space, so avoid planting too close to foundations or utility lines.
Swedish columnar aspens are perfect for narrow, upright growth and can grow up to 3-5 feet per year, reaching 40-50 feet in height.
Benefits: With their slim profile, these trees create excellent natural screens without taking up too much space, ideal for urban properties or side yards.
Considerations: While generally low-maintenance, Swedish aspens may produce suckers, requiring some management to prevent spreading.
The trembling aspen, a native Canadian tree, grows 2-3 feet annually, reaching 40-50 feet in height at maturity.
Benefits: Trembling aspens thrive in Calgary’s climate, offering dense foliage for both shade and privacy.
Considerations: These trees are relatively short-lived, around 50 years, and may produce suckers. Regular monitoring helps control unwanted growth.
4. American Elm
American elms are known for their expansive canopies, adding 3-4 feet in growth each year and reaching heights of over 50 feet.
Benefits: Ideal for shade, American elms are popular in Calgary neighborhoods and add significant curb appeal.
Considerations: Elms may be susceptible to Dutch elm disease and require periodic inspection. Their roots can also extend significantly, so plant them away from structures and pathways.
5. Green Ash
Green ash trees are highly drought-resistant, growing 2-3 feet per year and reaching a mature height of around 50 feet.
Benefits: Green ash provides dense foliage that offers full shade, ideal for Calgary’s dry summers.
Considerations: Green ash is susceptible to the emerald ash borer, a pest affecting ash trees across North America, so regular monitoring and occasional treatment may be needed.
The Manitoba maple is a cold and drought-resistant tree that can grow 2-3 feet per year, reaching up to 40-50 feet in height.
Benefits: This maple has a broad canopy that provides ample shade, making it suitable for open properties and backyards.
Considerations: Due to their weaker wood, Manitoba maples may be prone to breakage in high winds. Regular pruning can help maintain structural integrity.
Why New Construction Homeowners Should Invest in Fast-Growing Trees
Fast-growing trees add visual appeal and improve your property’s functionality and contribute to energy savings, property value, and environmental quality. Here’s how:
Energy Efficiency: Shade trees reduce air conditioning costs during Calgary’s warmer months and can act as a windbreak in the winter, lowering heating expenses.
Property Value: Properties with mature trees typically see a value increase of 5-15%. Fast-growing trees reach maturity sooner, creating instant curb appeal.
Environmental Benefits: Fast-growing trees sequester carbon and filter pollutants, improving air quality and contributing to Calgary’s urban green space.
Tips for Planting and Caring for New Trees on Your Property
Watering Schedule: Trees need regular watering during their first two years, especially in Calgary’s dry spells. Hybrid poplars and aspen species benefit most from consistent watering early on.
Pruning and Disease Management: Routine pruning helps trees maintain structural integrity and minimizes the risk of wind damage. For species like green ash, regular checks for pests like the emerald ash borer are essential.
Soil Preparation and Spacing: Proper soil preparation ensures robust growth. Space trees appropriately to prevent root interference with buildings or utility lines, especially for larger trees like the American elm.
Mulching: Applying mulch around the tree base retains moisture and regulates soil temperature, particularly beneficial in Calgary’s climate.
Book Your Tree Planting with Evergreen LTD
If you’re a new homeowner looking to create a beautiful, private, and shaded outdoor space, let Evergreen LTD help. With our ISA Certified Arborists, we’ll guide you through the best tree options for your new Calgary home, handle the planting, and provide expert advice on care and maintenance. From hybrid poplars to towering elms, we’ll make sure your trees are planted and cared for with Calgary’s unique conditions in mind.
Secure Your Privacy and Shade Today
For homeowners in Calgary’s new construction areas, fast-growing trees offer immediate benefits that can last for decades. Contact Evergreen LTD to discuss your landscaping needs, and let’s create a vibrant, lush landscape that enhances privacy, beauty, and value for your home.
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