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Sunday - March 15, 2009
From: Topeka, KS
Region: Midwest
Topic: Shrubs
Title: Fast-growing shrub or tree to block dust from dirt road
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I live on a dirt road in Northeast Kansas. Could you recommend a fast growing, low maintenance shrub/bush or small tree that will form a barrier to block the dust from the dirt road? It will be planted along a chainlink fence. ThanksANSWER:
Here are several possibilities for shrubs and small trees to help with your dust problem.Euonymus atropurpureus (burningbush) and more information from Illinois Wildflowers
Physocarpus opulifolius (common ninebark)
Salix humilis (prairie willow)
Cornus drummondii (roughleaf dogwood)
Fraxinus pennsylvanica (green ash)
Juniperus virginiana (eastern redcedar) can grow into a large tree (>40 feet) and is not particularly fast-growing, but it will form a dense shrub if planted close together and pruned. It is also evergreen.
Prunus angustifolia (Chickasaw plum)
You can find more possibilities by doing a COMBINATION SEARCH in our Native Plant Database selecting 'Kansas' from the Select State or Province option and either 'Shrub' or 'Tree' from the Habitat (general appearance) option.
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