Wind Break Trees for zone 5

Need to know which trees to buy

and fast growing trees

if not able to buy local then who is good to buy from on the internet

we are zone 5...Tonasket ,Wa....thanks for any info

I would assume you would want an evergreen then. Picea abies or Norway Spruce is a nice growing tree with minimal insect or disease problems.
http://www.canr.uconn.edu/mbrand/p/picabi/picabi1.html
they are very common for your zone(not sure about the west), unnamed cultivars should be fairly cheap.

If you don't mind starting with plants that are fairly small, Forest Farm is an excellent mail order source for many, many different kinds of trees, I'm sure whatever trees people here suggest for you would probably be available in their catalog.
http://www.forestfarm.com

Are you wanting windbreak trees for your yard or are you building a shelterbelt?

I have been working on both for the past 12 years. I have had the best luck with Ponderosa Pines, both around the house and in the shelterbelt.

The shelterbelt that I have west of the house to cut the west winds has a row of Ponderosa Pines, a row of different kinds of Poplar, (very fast growing), a row of Caragana, and a row of Lilacs. They are planted in that order, from tallest to shortest.

The other shelterbelt that was meant as a windbreak to the Northwest of the house was there when we moved here. However, we are going to have to figure out how to remove all the trees and start over. It had tons of Elms in there, and most have died. The ones that aren't dead, are 3/4 of the way there. Try to stay away from the Elms.

Thank you for the imput on the trees....
we are still in the planning stages on our big 1 acre of land
but we need all the help we can get....Julie & family

Please call your Extension Agency: they might be offering fast growing 2-1 transplants
for your area, like 20 trees, for $18.
I use my county and the next county over to find good deals on trees for shelter and
wind brakes.

Red Cedar, Norway Spruce
Viburnums, Thuja green giants, white pines, concolor firs,
locusts, hybrid poplar (for firewood in 5 years), even though
you are in 5b, I am pretty sure youre in the good area for
leyland cypress which are wonderful fast thick quick fragrant.
come in all different colors like easter eggs too. : )))

I have set up a small heel in nursery area where I grow on
my small plants from companies that send me seedlings.
I wait for a few years, till they will be able to support themselves
in the harsh world out there...

In this area I have lots of little pine trees and deciduous trees,
some bushes and some perennials that are developing good
growth and roots. I root prune so I don't have a bigger job
when it comes time to transplant them. I think though, my
Birches got away from me! LOL I asked DH to dig them
up for me this spring and he said "no problem" HA. I think
their roots go down about 4 feet or more.......
any questions,
just ask
sheri

I would agree with bigcityal about the picea abies as a whole. We're in zone 6 but with the wind we get atop our hill, it's more like zone 5 at times.

They are wonderful trees - all the cultivars - and make a superb backdrop for perennial or annuals.

Dea

all good info