Homes in areas with strong prevailing winds can reduce energy costs with a windbreak. Strong prevailing winds can force unconditioned outside air into the home or damage sensitive garden plants. Planting a windbreak provides a natural means of reducing the speed and force of the wind. The most effective windbreak designs include two to five rows of trees and shrubs using a combination of deciduous and evergreen plants to create a dense wall of foliage throughout the year.
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1.
Determine the prevailing wind direction in your area and select a suitable growing site between the prevailing wind and the area you want to shelter from the wind. Plan on placing your windbreak between 60 and 100 feet away from your protected area. Avoid low-lying areas with poor drainage to ensure that the loblolly pine trees in your windbreak remain healthy with minimal maintenance. The width of your windbreak should extend at least 50 feet beyond each side of the area you are protecting.
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2.
Drive the wooden stakes into the ground to mark the planting sites for your loblolly pine tree. Space the markers for each loblolly pine tree in your windbreak at least 14 feet apart but avoid placing them more than 20 feet apart. Closer spacings provide effective wind cover more quickly as your trees are growing, but wider spacings promote healthy tree growth and thicker foliage at ground level.
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3.
Clear away any weeds, grass or competing brush growing in the area around the wooden stakes you planted. Make sure that the cleared area is roughly the same size as the root ball of your loblolly pine trees. Loosen the soil using your shovel and irrigate thoroughly to limit compaction. If you are planting on a steep slope, cover the cleared area with mulch to limit erosion and prevent weeds from taking hold in the cleared areas.
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4.
Dig holes deep enough to accommodate the root ball of your trees that are roughly twice the width of each tree's root ball. Loosen the soil around the sides of the hole so that the dirt is not smooth or compacted. Make sure that the bottom of the hole is not disturbed to ensure the tree does not settle after planting. Remove your loblolly from its container and sever any roots that have grown in a circle around the root ball. Place the root ball inside the hole and position the tree so that it is pointing straight up.
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5.
Apply backfill around the root ball using soil from the hole you dug. Break up any dirt clods in the soil and lightly tamp the soil down using your shovel, but avoid compacting the soil over the root ball. Do not fill more than a few inches above the level of the existing roots.
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6.
Apply 2 to 4 inches of mulch over the root ball of the tree to discourage weeds and hold moisture over the roots of the tree. Water the soil around the root ball until the ground is moist, but avoid saturating the soil. Lightly water the area directly above the root ball so that the soil is moist to the touch on a daily basis for a month after planting to ensure that the tree receives enough water while it is establishing its root system.
