Whether for home garden design or climate protection: fast-growing trees have many advantages and allow for individual design. In this article, you will learn what to look out for when selecting and caring for them and which species grow particularly quickly.
How many cm does a tree grow per year?
The growth of trees depends on many different factors such as the ambient temperature, the light conditions, and the soil conditions. Nevertheless, it turns out that there are species that grow faster than others. Most trees grow around 20 cm per year. It is all the more impressive that some grow four to five times as much.
What many garden owners are not aware of is that they can influence the growth of any tree by providing it with all the necessary conditions. First of all, this means creating an ideal environment for the tree: the soil quality – especially the nutrient content and moisture level – as well as the light and temperature conditions must be right. In addition to pruning trees and shrubs in a species-appropriate manner, it is also important to water the tree sufficiently – especially if it has been newly planted. This applies not only to summer but generally to times with longer dry periods, which can even occur parallel to frost.
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The growth of the roots also has a decisive influence. If you want to have a large tree quickly, you should plant it in the autumn rather than the spring. This is because, by the start of spring, the tree will have a much better developed and stronger root system than a spring straggler.
Benefits of fast-growing trees
Hobby gardeners and plant lovers are dealing with a subject that requires a certain amount of patience. Despite this – or perhaps because of this – fast-growing trees are particularly attractive. It is simply convenient when the hedge in the garden provides the desired level of privacy after just a few years, the view from the window falls on lush greenery and pretty flowers and berries visually enhance the garden year. Their foliage provides shade on hot days and can protect neighboring plants from direct sunlight.
As the largest plants, trees play a key role in creating landscape structures – whether in groups or as solitary plants. Fast-growing urban trees are particularly beneficial when it comes to improving the living environment. After all, they also contribute to improving the urban climate by absorbing CO2 and producing oxygen – the faster they grow, the more.
Trees provide habitat and food sources for many native animal species. A fully grown specimen naturally does this to a greater extent than a sparse young tree.
Which trees grow fast?
Not every tree that grows quickly is automatically a giant. Most of them shoot up in height and often in width as well. Here are the top performers.
primeval sequoia (Metasequoia glyptostroboides)
Trees with this historic name belong to the cypress family and have leaf-like needles that turn bright orange in autumn before they are shed. With a height of up to 40 meters, the dawn redwood is more suited to larger gardens or parklands. In the Far East, however, it is also used as a city tree because it is easy to care for and robust. It can grow a full 60 to 100 cm in size per year.
White willow (Salix alba)
White willows are considered fast-growing trees for gardens and landscapes with a water source such as a stream or pond. In nature, they are an integral part of alluvial forests and lake landscapes. In the first few years, in particular, the white willow grows up to 200 cm in height per year, but then this figure halves. Overall, white willows reach a height of up to 35 m. The silver catkins provide nectar for numerous insects in spring. Both the roots and the crown of the white willow can be very sprawling, which should be taken into account when planting.
Bluebell tree (Paulownia tomentose)
With a total height of 5 to 10 meters, the bluebell tree is a medium-sized tree. Its annual growth of 50 to 70 cm is all the more impressive. It also delights gardeners in spring with bell-like violet-blue flowers – but only after 6 to 10 years. A mild to temperate climate is a prerequisite for flowering, as it does not like frost and cold. The bluebell tree is interesting for the timber industry because its wood is easy to process and at the same time stable. As an invasive species, however, it is not welcome everywhere.
Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica)
In its native regions, the Japanese cedar is often found together with rhododendrons because both have the same soil requirements: low in nutrients, rich in humus, and evenly moist. In its country of origin, Japan, wood plays an important role. Characteristic of this tree are the sickle-shaped needles and the bark, which peels off in long strips and reveals a rusty red color. The Japanese cedar has a good growth of around 80 cm in the first year.
maple-leaved plane trees (Platanus x Hispanic)
The trademark of this plane tree is, as the name suggests, its maple-like leaves and its impressive growth with a high crown and an impressive width of up to 20 meters. As a roof plane tree, it can provide shade in the garden, but it can also be found in cities due to its high exhaust gas resistance and robustness against heat. Its annual growth is around 50 cm and since its shape becomes very sprawling, regular pruning is essential. Even more lush than the treetop of the maple-leaved plane tree is the root system, which takes up a lot of space.
mountain ash (Sorbus aucuparia)
Also known as ‘rowan’, the mountain ash is an eye-catcher from spring to autumn: the white, panicle-like small flowers are followed by bright orange-red berries and the leaves are colored in strong yellow, orange, and red tones. The mountain ash is an important source of food for insects and birds and is therefore ideal for natural garden and landscape design, e.g. in insect-friendly green areas. In the first few years, this tree species grows particularly quickly, up to 70 cm, but then slows down. The mountain ash can cope with various soil conditions but prefers loose, nutrient-rich soil.
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What to look out for?
Anyone interested in fast-growing trees should consider not only their height but also their width. Some tree species grow to a width of 4 to 5 meters, while others, such as the Norway maple, can grow up to 20 meters wide. The space required must be calculated precisely in advance – especially since the tree’s roots often require a lot of space. Fast-growing trees are planted to provide shade or privacy. However, if the distance between the terrace and the house, especially to windows, is too small, this may result in less daylight later on.
When planning for the long term, it is important to remember that most trees grow more slowly as they get older. And that’s not all. Researchers such as Prof. Emanuel Gloor from the Institute for Earth and Environment at the University of Leeds have found that fast-growing trees die comparatively sooner. This in turn limits their positive effect on the environment, because even if they absorb more CO2 in their early years, slow-growing species make up for it by living longer.
For sustainable, ecological projects, it may also be of interest to pay attention to a selection of native tree species. Many fast-growing trees are invasive species that spread rapidly in this country and displace native trees. This is even more problematic if such trees are of no use to native animal species. On the other hand, there are also introduced fast-growing tree species that have long integrated very well into the local ecosystem and support insects with an abundant supply of food – for example, the trumpet tree.
Conclusion
Fast-growing trees grow between 30 and 80 cm a year – some even more – and this is especially true in the first few years. Regardless of this, the growth of every tree can be supported by ideal living conditions such as the right soil, light, and temperature conditions. This means that you can enjoy the trees as a beautiful eye-catcher, dense hedge, or shade provider all the sooner. The particularly fast-growing trees include dawn redwood, white willow, bluebell tree, Japanese cedar, London plane, and rowan. Some are native species, others are invasive. The best choice, however, is whether the species fits harmoniously into the local ecosystem and is an asset for animals. In addition to growth in height, growth in width and the later volume of the root system should also be included in the planning.
