La Junta District

Agroforestry

Windbreaks in Southeastern Colorado

Windbreaks and living snow fences are extremely important in southeastern Colorado. Here, the wind blows often and hard with not much deterrence through our relatively flat terrain. Strategically placed windbreaks greatly reduce wind speed around specific targets. These can be homesteads, roads, barns, feedlots, corrals, crop fields or any number of other areas. The benefits of reduced wind speed include preventing blowing snow, reducing heating and cooling costs, buffering sound and odors, providing cooler or warmer areas for livestock and reducing soil erosion. Windbreaks also provide excellent habitat for many wildlife species especially when a fruit-producing shrub row is added. Check out our Agroforestry Publications and Links for specific windbreak guides for basic design, livestock operations, fields, snow management and wildlife.

Planning

Planning is the first step toward planting a successful windbreak. In southeastern Colorado, windbreaks are most effective when located on the north, west or northwest sides of areas to be protected. In order to keep snow from piling on an area, the center of the inside row must be planted at least 150-200 feet from the target. The ends of windbreaks need to be located at least 50 feet from areas to be protected due to snow accumulation around the ends.

Planting two high-density (8-10 foot in-row spacing) rows of evergreens will provide the most benefit for blocking wind and snow. Because of our dry climate, we also recommend installing weed barrier fabric and a drip system for optimum seedling survival and to maintain healthy trees. Weed barrier fabric must be checked annually to avoid seedling girdling issues with the new plantings; simply cut the fabric away from the trunks.

If you would like help developing a plan, please contact the CSFS La Junta District office. For specific windbreak and living snow fence guidelines, visit the USDA National Agroforestry Center.

Tree Selection

Tree species selection for your windbreak is also very important. For southeastern Colorado we recommend a combination of eastern red cedar and Rocky Mountain juniper for the high-density evergreen rows. Austrian and ponderosa pine also can be used but are not as drought resistant and, in general, tend to survive better in Baca and Las Animas counties. Recommended shrubs for southeastern Colorado windbreaks include sumac, lilac, native plum, Nanking cherry, European sage and four-wing saltbush. Recommended deciduous trees include hackberry, honeylocust, lacebark elm and bur oak. We strongly recommend installing a drip system if you plant any shrubs or deciduous trees (these come as bare root stock from the CSFS Nursery and require supplemental watering to become established). Other recommended deciduous trees include winterberry euonymus, Osage orange and mulberry varieties. These varieties may be found at the State of Utah Lone Peak Conservation Nursery at (801) 571-0900 and the Oklahoma State Nursery at (800) 517-3673.

Ordering Seedling Trees and Shrubs

In southeastern Colorado, seedling tree order forms are available from the county office of Colorado State University Extension or the CSFS La Junta District office. Orders are placed through your county's Colorado State University Extension office. To view the full selection of trees and shrubs available from the CSFS Nursery read our Buyer's Guide (1.8 MB PDF).

Ordering Tree Care Supplies

The CSFS La Junta District sells the following tree care supplies. Please call (719) 383-5780 for an order form.

  • seedling/rabbit guards (4"x18")
  • bamboo stakes
  • fertilizer tablets
  • root polymer
  • weed barrier fabric rolls 6'x300'
  • weed barrier fabric squares 6'x6'
  • staples

Site Preparation

Site preparation is necessary to catch and store moisture, reduce grass and weed competition and prepare the soil for planting. Medium to heavy (clay) soils can be summer fallowed in the year prior to planting. Sites can be left rough over the winter and then disked, harrowed or roto-tilled just before planting. Sandy soils are best cultivated just before planting.

Cultivating to a depth of 12-18 inches is ideal, especially when using implements for installation. If installing weed barrier (typically 6 feet wide) cultivate to an 8-10 foot width. This allows for enough loose soil to back fill onto the edges of the weed barrier. For more information on site preparation, see the Tree Planting Guide (51 KB PDF).

Installing weed barrier fabric mulch Cutting hole in fabric for seedling
Using a Tree Planter to plant seedlings

Proper Handling and Planting of Seedlings

Seedlings are delicate; mishandling can lead to higher mortality. Please see the Kansas State Forest Service's Tree Planting Guide (External PDF), or the CSFS Nursery's Planting Guide for more information on how to care for your seedlings during storage and while planting, and how to properly plant bare root and potted stock.




Drip Irrigation

Installing a drip irrigation system

Drip irrigation will ensure a much higher survival rate for seedlings and established trees in our semiarid climate which is subject to frequent drought cycles. See the Drip Irrigation, Water Conservation: Drip Irrigation (External PDF) or Drip Works for more information on drip irrigation. The Kiowa County Conservation District and the Cheyenne County Conservation District sell drip irrigation materials and will help you plan your drip system if you live within those counties.

Mulching

Mulching in southeastern Colorado's semiarid climate greatly reduces seedling and tree mortality. It reduces water competition from weeds and grass and also reduces moisture loss from the soil. For information about using and installing weed barrier fabric, read Weed Barrier Fabric Mulch for Tree and Shrub Plantings (171 KB PDF). For information about different types of mulches, read Mulches for Home Grounds. Weed barrier fabric mulch can be ordered from the CSFS La Junta District office, Kiowa County Conservation District and the Cheyenne County Conservation District.

Fertilizing

Fertilizer use on new seedlings is not generally a good idea; do not use manure at the time of planting as it contains high levels of nitrogen that will burn the tender seedlings. In most cases, your trees will not need to be fertilized. Over fertilization causes unnatural, rapid growth, which leads to weak, large leaders and reduces the plant density. It is best to have your soils tested first before applying fertilizer; contact your local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service center for soils information. If you must apply fertilizer, let the seedlings grow for one or two seasons before applying a low nitrogen fertilizer. Apply nitrogen at a rate of three pounds per thousand square feet of area to be covered. For more information on fertilizing trees and shrubs, see Plant Talk.

Maintaining your Windbreak

The final product: Proper installation will lead to the success of your new windbreak.

Maintenance is critical to ensure long-term seedling survival and healthy trees. Supplemental watering, weed control, proper and timely pruning, protecting from wildlife and livestock, monitoring for insects and diseases, replacing dead trees and monitoring weed barrier fabric for girdling are all practices that will help your trees live long and healthy lives. For more information on these topics, see the National Agroforestry Center's Windbreak Management Guide.

For more information about planning, installing and maintaining windbreaks, contact the CSFS La Junta District office at (719) 384-9087.

Agroforestry Publications and Links