I'm looking for shorter conifers to break wind, hold heat and shade a
swale. The tree line needs to be tall
enough to shade the swale, but short enough so the hugelbeds behind the swale get light.
I'm in northeastern MN (zone 3/4).
I have a
Trees of MN field guide (Tekiela). Heights listed here:
White Spruce 40-60ft
Black Spruce 25-50
Colorado Spruce 40-60
Norway Spruce 50-70
Eastern Hemlock 40-60
Balsam Fir 50-75
Douglas Fir 50-70
Jack Pine 20-50
Scotch Pine 30-80
Austrian Pine 40-60
Red Pine 40-80
Ponderosa Pine 50-70
Eastern White Pine 70-100
Tamarack 40-70
Eastern Red Cedar 25-50
Eastern White Cedar 30-50
I was hoping for 10-20 ft. I think Black Spruce (25-50) and Jack Pine (20-50) have many dead branches. On top of the desires for a wind break, heat and shade I'd also like added benefits (bird/animal feed/shelter or medicine, sap, etc).
Thoughts?