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Quickest growing fruit tree


10 Fastest Growing Fruit Trees For Your Backyard Orchard

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Fruit trees take upwards of seven to 10 years to produce a harvest, and no one wants to wait that long to eat fresh fruit grown at home.

Instead of growing the average tree that takes too long to set fruit, you’ll want to plant some of the fastest growing fruit trees in your backyard orchard. 

Why do these trees stand out?

Some of these fruit trees take only two to three years to set and produce fruit. That’s a fraction of the time it takes for other trees to grow fresh fruits. Stop waiting so long and plant some of the quickest fruit trees.

Seed vs. Grafted Trees: Why It Matters

Before I dive into the fastest trees, I wanted to touch on whether or not you should grow fruit tres from seeds or a grafted tree.

If you’ve never grown fruit trees, you might be confused by the differences, and it does matter. 

If you go to a local nursery, you’ll find grafted fruit trees. They look like much smaller trees, but they are a solid choice because you will get fruit much earlier than if you tried to grow the tree from seeds. 

The negative of grafted trees is that they cost more, but you’re shaving years off when you have to wait for a harvest. I think it’s worth the money.

Growing from seeds can take 8-10 years before fruit production, but it’s much cheaper. It’s a practice in patience.

Top 10 Fastest Growing Fruit Trees 

It’s important to remember that each fruit tree has different types. There are dozens of apple tree varieties, and some of them produce faster than others. Also, you’ll need to select a variety that handles your USDA zone and climate the best. 

That’s why I highly suggest that you buy fruit trees from a local nursery, if possible.

Local nurseries will only carry trees that grow well in your locale.

Fruit trees are an investment into the future, and you don’t want to waste your time growing trees that don’t handle your climate nor produce well where you live. 

Here are 10 of the top picks that not only grow fast but taste delicious too.

1. Peach Trees

Peach trees are fun to grow and some of the fastest-growing, but they don’t handle growing in an area with a lot of frost or cold temperatures.

I live in zone 5B, and it can be troublesome for a peach harvest if we have an unusually cold winter. Be sure to select peach tree varieties that are cold hardy.

 

Make sure you select a well-draining area; peach trees don’t handle soggy roots well. 

You can’t plant just one peach tree unless you find a self-fertile variety, which is possible, but there are fewer options.

When you select your second peach tree, find one that is different but blooms at the same time. This allows the plants to cross-pollinate. 

An average peach tree takes three years to fruit, but poor care will lead to a more extended period before a full harvest. Correctly cared for peach trees harvest faster than neglected ones.

2. Mulberry Trees

We have a large mulberry tree in our backyard that has been producing berries for decades with no signs of stopping.

The only problem we face is that mulberries tend to send up volunteer trees all over the place, and mulberry trees grow fast, typically 2.5 feet per year. 

The rate in which they grow is impressive. A grafted mulberry tree can produce in as little as 12 years, continuing to provide for decades. 

You do need to realize that these trees are massive, so be sure that you have the space for a mulberry tree. A three-year-old mulberry tree can reach 12 feet tall. Our tree is, at least, 30 feet tall and just as wide. 

Mulberry trees are heavy producers. Once established, the tree will yield dozens of cups of berries. One year, my mother-in-law and I made over 100 jars of jam and still didn’t pick all of the berries off the tree. 

Unfortunately, mulberries have a bad reputation because of their habit of growing everywhere. Their berries aren’t as juicy and plump as others, but they make a delicious jam.

3. Apple Trees

If you live in an area that doesn’t have some cold weather, you won’t be able to grow apple trees because they require chill hours. That indicates how much cold weather is needed for the plant to produce fruit. 

If you live in an area with a milder climate, some apple tree varieties require low chill hours. Those are the ones you should go for instead. 

Wondering what a chill hour is? When you see chill hours noted on the description of a tree, your fruit tree needs a specific number of days when the temperature is at or below 45℉ in the winter as it enters spring. This leads to the end of dormancy and encourages the plant to flower.

Apple trees also need to cross-pollinate with another apple tree to produce fruits. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a tree that looks great but doesn’t produce any fruits.

4. Citrus Fruit Trees

The ability to grow citrus trees depends on your climate and where you live. Most regions don’t have consistent temperatures high enough for you to plant them outside because these trees don’t tolerate any frosts. 

That’s why most people don’t consider growing citrus trees, which is a shame because they’re among the fastest-growing fruit trees and prolific in their growth. 

Don’t let your location stop you from growing citrus fruits if you want to do so. These trees grow well indoors.

Try growing Meyer lemons or Satsuma oranges.

These are two varieties ideal for containers because they’re dwarf trees. You bring them inside each winter when they go dormant. 

One of the nice things about growing citrus fruit is that they’re self-pollinating. You don’t need to worry about growing more than one tree. Best of all, citrus trees start to produce fruits the year after you plant them, and a full harvest arrives three years after planting.

5. Apricot Trees

Not all apricot trees are quick growers, but you can look for varieties known for fast growth. Two fast-growing apricot varieties are “Early Golden” and “Moorpark.” On average, it will take three to our years to produce fruit. 

Apricots are self-fertile, so you don’t need a pollination partner.

That’s such a nice part of growing apricots.

Apricots grow better in colder temperatures; the trees need 700 to 1,0,00 chilling hours to set fruit!

6. Mandarin Fruit Trees

I put mandarins as a separate category because, while they’re a citrus fruit, mandarins are considerably easier to grow than traditional oranges or lemons.

If you’ve never grown any type of citrus, starting with a mandarin tree is a smart idea; their requirements are easier and less maintenance required overall. 

If you have kids, mandarins are a popular snack, and you can find dwarf varieties that will grow in your climate.

You still need to bring the trees inside if you have colder weather or any frost.

Your home, a heated garage, or heated greenhouse works perfectly. 

While it’s possible to grow a mandarin tree from seeds, it’ll take about seven years to see a harvest. It’s better to start with grafted trees, and you’ll see a harvest in two to three years. 

If you’re nervous about growing fruit trees, mandarins are an excellent choice. Not only are they easy to grow, but they also don’t require any pruning. That’s a huge advantage, especially if pruning seems intimidating to you.

7. Cherry Trees

Like apricot trees, not all cherry trees quickly produce a harvest, and these trees are massive.

It’s not abnormal for black cherry trees to grow up to 50 feet tall, so consider the future and make sure you have ample space for their growth.

Dwarf trees still need to be planted at least 10 feet apart. 

Sweet cherry trees are self-sterile, so you do need to have other varieties of cherries in the same area.

These trees can take up to four years to produce a harvest. Sour cherries produce sooner than sweet cherries, and they take three years for a harvest.

8. Fig Trees

In our previous home, my husband planted a fig tree in front of our porch. I told him that he was insane because our climate doesn’t handle figs well, so I assumed we would never see a harvest.

I was wrong. While we do need to bring it outside as the temperatures turn colder, fig trees produce a harvest quickly and are easy to grow when compared to other types of fruit trees.

Figs prefer warm weather, so keep your tree in a container and bring them inside as the temperatures dip. 

Fig trees are self-fertile, so you only need to grow one tree to have a harvest. They don’t flower; you’ll just find fruit on the branches. It only takes two years for fruits to grow and be ready for harvest. 

If you do have a fig tree climate, you can plant it outdoors in the ground rather than in a container. In-ground fig trees can reach up to 30 feet tall if left to grow.

You’ll still get a harvest just as fast, but it will continue to grow rapidly over the first five years.

9. Pear Trees

Not all pear trees produce quickly, but if you pick the right one, they will. Pear trees grow well in a range of USDA zones, and just like apple trees, you can select from a wide range of varieties.

 

Most pear trees reach tall heights, around 20 feet tall. Not only are they large, but pears tend to be easier to grow because they have fewer disease and pest problems. You will need to have two plants for successful pollination. 

In general, it can take three to four years for the early pear varieties to flower and bear fruit. Some types take up to 10 years; those are the ones that you want to avoid.

10. Moringa Trees

Chances are you’ve never heard of this little tree, but it’s full of nutrients that your family can benefit from having in your backyard. Moringa trees prefer warm climates, but just like citrus fruit trees, you can grow these trees in containers and bring them inside during the winter. 

The seed pods, beans, and leaves are edible parts of the moringa trees.

You can add the leaves in soups or dehydrate them for a delicious tea blend. The pods are similar to green beans. 

The coolest thing about growing moringa is that it’s a super fast-growing fruit tree. It can grow 15-20 feet in a single growing season.

Container grown plants won’t grow as prolifically, but inground plants continue to come back each year so long as the roots don’t freeze.

6 Tips for Growing Fruit Trees in Your Backyard

Fruit trees seem intimidating and harder than growing vegetables, but once you try it, you’ll see that they aren’t complicated. 

Here are some simple tips for picking the right fruit tree for your property and proper care. I promise it’s easier than you imagined.

1. Pick A Tree With The Right Heat Tolerance

Always match a tree with your region’s climate. Knowing what type of weather a tree prefers will decrease problems in the future.

For example, apples need cold nights and warm days and several days or weeks under a specific temperature to set fruit. Peaches, on the other hand, love long, hot summers.

2. Check Out Pollination Needs

Do you need a second tree for cross-pollination? You don’t need to have two of the same type, but you’ll want two trees.

For example, you can plant two apple trees, but have one red delicious and one yellow delicious. They just need help with pollination.

On the other hand, some fruit trees self-pollinate, which means you don’t need to have more than one tree.

3. Use The Right Container Size

Some dwarf fruit trees grow fine in containers, but you have to pick the right container size.

You’ll need something that is at least 15-20 gallons with plenty of drainage holes at the bottom of the pot.

Some gardeners like to add rocks or gravel at the bottom of the container to help with drainage.

You don’t want soggy roots.

4. Dig A Deep Hole

Be sure to ready to directions that come with your fruit tree and dig a large enough hole.

Typically, the hole needs to be 12-18 inches wide and deep at the minimum. Some trees recommend a larger hole. 

Aside from the hole depth, but sure that the grafted joint is two inches above the soil line. That’s important to remember.

5. Never Overwater

All plants and trees need and love water, but dwarf trees don’t need to be overwatered.

No plant wants to be overwatered, but so many people don’t understand that overwatering is as detrimental as underwatering. 

Watering correctly is crucial, especially if you’re growing trees in containers. All you need to do is water once or twice per week.

During hot, dry weeks throughout the summer, a third watering can be beneficial, but that’s all that is needed.

6. Don’t Forget To Feed It

Setting fruit takes a lot out of your fruit tree, so feeding is crucial. It’s a wise practice to add compost around your tree once or twice per water.

You also can buy fruit tree supplements and fertilizers to try. Feeding is especially important if you’re growing trees in containers. 

Try Growing Fruit Trees

It might seem intimidating to grow fruit trees, but they’re relatively straightforward. If you pick the fastest-growing fruit trees, you can see a harvest much faster than expected.

Typically, with these ten trees, you’ll have an abundant harvest within three to four years.

Bethany Hayes

Bethany is a suburban homesteader, growing over half of the vegetables, fruit, and herbs that her family of six needs each year. She raises chickens and homeschools her children. When she isn’t spending time tending to her garden, you can find her reading, crocheting, and canning.

Best fast-growing fruit trees: 10 vigorous fruit trees to grow

(Image credit: Alamy)

Fast-growing fruit trees fill your garden with beautiful, snowy blossom that provides food for wildlife (such as bees) in springtime. And there is no need to wait years and years to enjoy them. On top of that, plucking fruit from your own trees is not only a pleasure to do, the crop also boasts more flavor and nutrients than shop-bought produce. 

Plant fruit trees on vigorous rootstock that delivers size quickly or buy ready-trained espaliers for spectacular wall fruit without the wait. Soon you can fill the fruit bowl with your own tasty plums, pears, cherries, and more. These are the best fast-growing fruit trees, according to experts.

Best fast-growing fruit trees

Just like the best fast-growing trees, these beauties inject the garden with structure and size, as well as gorgeous foliage and flowers. But these fast-growing fruit trees have the added bonus of providing you with tasty fruit.

1. Best fast-growing fruit tree for walls

(Image credit: Alamy)

An espalier apple is an apple tree trained into an elegant series of horizontal tiers, usually against a wall. Espaliers look sophisticated and beautiful, and – even better – can be bought ready-trained, so that they achieve size faster. For us, an espalier apple is one of the best fast-growing flowering trees, too.

‘Rare is the person that wants to wait years for an apple to reach its mature size, but it is possible to purchase various varieties pre-trained as an espalier, and from there the possibilities are great,’ says Los Angeles-based landscape designer Laura Morton , ‘A seasonal fruit tree is simply a magical thing, and an espaliered apple adds the extra pleasure of watching the buds up close as they fatten up and bloom.’ 

Growing tips: Buy a ready-trained 1, 2, or 3-tier espalier apple on MM106 rootstock (rootstock determines a fruit tree’s vigor), selecting a variety that meets your needs (for instance, ‘Scrumptious’ is a self-fertile, disease-resistant dessert apple), and plant against a sunny wall.

 

Hardiness: USDA 3-9 (UK H6).

Height: 6-15ft (2-4.5m).

2. Best fast-growing fruit tree for tasty fruit

(Image credit: Westend61 / Getty Images)

Plum trees not only have delicious fruit, they also produce spring blossom that looks pretty and helps wildlife.

‘Plum trees are the fastest growing fruit trees,’ says Karim Habibi, co-owner of Keepers Fruit Nursery in Kent. ‘But vigor really depends on the tree’s rootstock. Any plum (such as ‘Victoria’ or ‘Opal’) grown on Brompton rootstock will grow much larger than the same varieties grown on the dwarfing rootstock VVA-1.’

Growing tips: ‘Plant bare root trees (between November and March) and water the trees well in the first season to encourage the roots to establish,’ says Karim. Plant in sheltered sun, after digging organic matter into the ground.

Hardiness: USDA 4-9 (UK H6).

Height: 15ft (4.

5m) or more.

3. Best fast-growing fruit tree for pots

(Image credit: Getty Images)

‘Dwarf peaches make great garden additions,’ says Ohio-based garden designer Ethan McGory . ‘Their early-spring pink blooms are wonderful, the fruit is delicious, and they start to produce relatively quickly. I recommend the variety ‘Scarlet Prince’.’

Dwarf peach (Prunus persica) are excellent for growing in containers. Varieties (such as self-fertile ‘Bonanza’) produce wonderful pink blossom in early spring and juicy fruit in late summer.

Growing tips: Plant in a large (20in/50cm) well-drained pot of loam-based compost and place in full sun. Containers must be in the glasshouse or covered with horticultural fleece to protect the early blooms from frost.

Hardiness: USDA 5-9 (UK h5).

Height: 5ft (1.5m).

4. Best fast-growing tree for unusual fruit

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The Asian pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) looks like a cross between an apple and a pear, bearing apple-shaped fruits with pear-like skin, and has the crunchy texture of an apple and juicy flesh.

In spring, it produces white blossom that feeds bees and hoverflies.

‘Asian pear is my go-to fruit tree for any client with a small orchard,’ says Connecticut-based landscape-designer Donna Christensen . ‘It produces a great deal of tasty fruit early in its development.’  

Growing tips: ‘It does not require much in the way of spraying for leaf spot or bug damage,’ says Donna Christensen. ‘You will need to know how to prune pear trees for shaping, and, if you would like to increase the fruit size, you might remove some of the early pears.’

Hardiness: USDA 5-9 (UK H6).

Height: 20-30ft (6-9m).

5. Best fast-growing fruit tree for a warm climate 

(Image credit: Francesco Maltinti / Alamy Stock Photo)

Citrus trees have lovely, glossy evergreen leaves, an attractive shape, and, of course, flavorsome fruit. In cool temperate regions, they can be enjoyed in pots that are placed on the terrace during summer and overwintered in a glasshouse.

‘Most fruit trees take up a significant amount of space in warm climates,’ says Florida-based garden designer Matthew Giampietro . ‘So, I like to use smaller citrus trees (such as lemon and lime) in residential garden designs. They quickly become an accent in the landscape, while at the same time providing fruit.’  

Growing tips: Citrus can be amongst the best trees to grow in pots. For container growing, use a pot at least 20in (50cm) wide, and fill with citrus compost or a mix of soil-based compost and up to 20% sharp sand or grit; and place in sun. In cold regions, ensure lemons and limes have a minimum night temperature of 50°F (10°C) in the glasshouse during winter.

Hardiness: USDA 9-12 (UK h3).

Height: 10-20ft (3-6m).

6. Best fast-growing fruit tree for a small garden

(Image credit: Alamy)

Apple fencing (or step-overs) consists of low-growing horizontally trained apple trees that can be used as border edging or a way to separate different garden areas.

They are perfect for fitting fruit trees into smaller gardens.

‘Apple fencing is a great way to add in a decorative division,’ says Los Angeles-based landscape designer Laura Morton . ‘It adds seasonal interest and makes it easier to harvest the fruit.’  

Growing tips: A step-over consists of one tree that extends out to either side, with two long arms, forming a T shape. To create a step-over fence faster, buy trees ready-trained on M27 rootstock. Plant in sheltered sun, provide support, and prune in summer.

Hardiness: USDA 3-9 (UK H6).

Height: 20in (50cm).

7. Best fast growing fruit tree for wildlife

(Image credit: Radu Negrean / EyeEm / Getty Images)

In spring, cherry trees are coated in fleecy blossom that provides food for pollinators and brightens the garden. You can buy sweet cherry trees (Prunus avium) for eating or sour cherries (Prunus cerasus) for cooking, as well ornamental flowering cherries that don’t produce fruit.

Prunus avium ‘Stella’ is an award-winning self-fertile eating variety that produces sweet dark red or black fruit in late July; it’s also a great pollinator, if you have other cherry trees.

‘For vigor, I would grow cherry trees on the rootstock F12/1,’ says Karim Habibi, co-owner of Keepers Fruit Nursery in Kent. A fruit tree’s rootstock determines the power of its growth.

Growing tips: Grow in well-drained moderately fertile soil. Plant sweet cherries in sheltered sun. Sour cherries can be grown in sheltered semi-shade.

Hardiness: USDA 3-8 (UK H6).

Height: 20ft (6m) or more.

8. Best fast-growing fruit tree for winter interest

(Image credit: Leigh Clapp)

Espalier pear trees create a stylish, formal garden feature that delivers spring blossom, fruit, and fantastic structure in winter. A great example is the old espalier pear at Anglesey Abbey in Cambridgeshire, England.

‘We prune it annually, in July or August,’ says Head Gardener David Jordan, who cares for the iconic pear. ‘We reduce all of the extension growth to about 2-3 buds and try to keep the overall volume of wood well thinned to prevent placing too much weight on the relatively thin branches.’

Growing tips: ‘For new espaliers, ensure there is plenty of support for the plant as it grows,’ advises David Jordan. ‘Put it on a west or south-facing wall, and make sure there are pollinating trees nearby to facilitate fruit production. Prune for vigor in summer and for shape in winter.’ Buy a pre-trained espalier pear on Pyrodwarf rootstock and plant against a sunny, sheltered wall.

Hardiness: USDA 4-8 (UK H6).

Height: 6-15ft (2-4.5m).

9. Best fast-growing fruit tree for a large garden

(Image credit: Jane Doan/Unsplash)

Mango (Mangifera indica) not only delivers delicious, nutritious fruit, it is also a good-looking tree with a substantial shape, interesting flowers, and lanceolate evergreen leaves.

‘Mango trees are a sought after fruit tree which grows very well, but I only recommend planting one if there is enough space and the conditions are suitable,’ says Florida-based garden designer Matthew Giampietro. 

Growing tips: Plant in full sun in well-drained soil in a humid, warm climate. In colder regions, grow dwarf mangos (such as ‘Palmer’) in pots that are moved into a greenhouse that keeps a minimum temperature of 50°F (10°C) during winter.

Hardiness: USDA 10-12 (UK h3).

Height: 30-100ft (9-30m).

10. Best fast-growing fruit tree for beautiful blossom 

(Image credit: Polly Eltes)

A specimen apple is arguably the ultimate garden tree. Referring to a tree as a ‘specimen’ means that it is planted apart, on its own, as a focal point. A specimen apple forms a characterful shape and keeps you company through the year: after the charming spring blossom that feeds bees, it gives leafy summer shade, tasty fruit, and then good winter structure.

‘I like to think of apple trees as specimen trees,’ says Jessica Soulliere, owner of Potager Garden Design, LLC and The Ferry Street Nursery Project in Detroit, Michigan. ‘They are gorgeous when in bloom. If space allows, place your apple tree in the middle of an open space so that you can walk around it from all sides – this means there is also space to prune where needed, pick fruits, and when the petals fall, there's a beautiful pink-white carpet underneath.’

Growing tips: ‘For vigorous growth, choose the right rootstock,’ says Karim Habibi, co-owner of Keepers Fruit Nursery. ‘You can grow nearly any apple variety on an M25 or MM111 rootstock, and they will grow larger more quickly.’ If you don’t have other apple trees in the vicinity, choose a self-fertile variety; decide if you want an eating or cooking apple; and speak to your supplier about the best variety for your climate.

Hardiness: USDA 3-9 (UK H6).

Height: 15ft (4.

5m) or more.

Which fruit trees bear fruit fastest?

For trees that bear fruit that grows quickly, look to soft fruits, including peaches, papaya, apricots, figs and mulberries. In general, plant fruit trees like these so they get lots of sun – and decent airflow between branches to produce sweet, healthy fruit, so pruning of the trees is important. 

What is the easiest fast-growing fruit tree to grow

The easiest fast-growing fruit tree to grow is the apple tree. As long as it is pruned properly to ensure healthy growth, this is a low maintenance fast-growing fruit tree that will thrive happily 

Rachel is senior content editor, and writes and commissions gardening content for homesandgardens.com, Homes & Gardens magazine, and its sister titles Period Living Magazine and Country Homes & Interiors. She has written for lifestyle magazines for many years, with a particular focus on gardening, historic houses and arts and crafts, but started out her journalism career in BBC radio, where she enjoyed reporting on and writing programme scripts for all manner of stories.

Rachel then moved into regional lifestyle magazines, where the topics she wrote about, and people she interviewed, were as varied and eclectic as they were on radio. Always harboring a passion for homes and gardens, she jumped at the opportunity to work on The English Home and The English Garden magazines for a number of years, before joining the Period Living team, then the wider Homes & Gardens team, specializing in gardens.

What fast-growing trees will help close the neighbor's house? Description of varieties and photos - Botanichka

Having moved to a country house with a garden, we, like many people, strove for peace and solitude in nature. But everything turned out like a bad joke. Soon the neighboring plot was bought out, and the new neighbors erected a three-story house with windows overlooking our garden. But I did not despair. In this article I will tell you what trees I acquired in order to hide the neighbor's house from our eyes as soon as possible, or rather, to close our garden from prying eyes.

What fast-growing trees will help close the neighbor's house?

By what criteria did I choose the trees?

When it is necessary to decorate neighboring buildings as quickly as possible, the main quality of the selected trees is their high growth rate. But it is important to take into account other characteristics of the plant. Here are the criteria by which I chose the trees:

  1. This should not be a breed of the first or second order. That is, a 20-40-meter tree on the site will certainly cope with the function of a screen from a neighbor's house, but at the same time, there will be nothing in my garden except shady flower beds. And this is not quite what I dreamed of.
  2. The tree must be unproblematic. From time to time, any crop can be affected by diseases and pests, but if the breed is famous for its propensity for any disease, for example, like Weymouth pine, suffering from rust, then this option will not suit me. Also, the breed should not actively grow or be "garbage", such as black locust (locust) or American maple.
  3. The plant must fit into the design of the garden, have an appropriate character, color and not stand out from the general mood of my site.
  4. The crown should have a predominantly columnar shape, that is, not be too wide so as not to "steal" a significant part of the territory of my garden, but grow mostly vertically, like a living tall fence.
  5. It is desirable that the breed be consistently decorative and have an attractive appearance for most of the year. It is also nice if the tree is evergreen, so that I can calmly walk around the garden “without prying eyes” in winter.

So, what breeds did I consider for the role of a screen from a neighbor's house and what did I end up with?

Deltoid poplar “Purple Tower”

I first saw the seedling of deltoid poplar “Purple Tower” ( Purple Tower ) in the nursery, and it literally sunk into my soul. The plant had huge burgundy-red glossy leaves and a very stately appearance.

However, I was in no hurry to plant this plant in my garden due to the fact that it is still a poplar, and it grows quite large. As an adult it is described as 10-15 m tall.

Delta poplar (Populus deltoides), cultivar 'Purple Tower'. © Janusz Radecki

It grows like all poplars, it is literally before our eyes (an increase of 50 cm per year), you can cut it, but you will have to do it quite often. And now, in connection with the appearance of a tall neighbor's house, I again remembered this variety and seriously thought about it. However, I still didn't buy it.

The main reason is poplar's windfall (just recently a hurricane raged not far from us, and poplars were literally broken in half, while other trees survived). Another problem is poplar's superficial root system, and I didn't really want its roots to climb into my flower beds and lawn. And the third reason - after all, poplar looks too formal and is subconsciously perceived as a marker of urban landscaping.

Willow

Willow ( Salix ) is another fast growing tree that can be quite acceptable in wet areas.

At present, there is a great variety of decorative types of willows (in Moscow you can even find a nursery specializing in interesting types and varieties of willows). They look very attractive and will not grow into gigantic trees. But in our new garden, the soil is still very dry, and the willow, I think, would not be too comfortable with such conditions. I don't plan to water much in my garden.

Willow (Salix)

In addition, willow tends to have a wide crown and will take up too much space. Another problem is that willow is famous as a plant that attracts a huge number of insects, including pests. There is even a saying that a good gardener will never plant a willow in his garden. Also, these trees do not really correspond to the general style of my site and are often short-lived, they can suffer from strong winds.

Read also our article Iva Matsudana - an openwork beauty for your garden.

Apricot

Apricot ( Prunus armeniaca ) is one of the fastest growing fruit trees whose growth rate is simply amazing.

When we bought the plot, two apricot seedlings were growing on them, reaching a height of about 1.5 m. By the end of the season, these were already trees of almost three meters in height, and we took the first crop from them. That is, in one summer, apricots of the varieties "Orlovchanin" and "Kompotny" gave an increase of 1-1.5 m and significantly overtook the cherries, apples and pears growing nearby.

Apricot (Prunus armeniaca). © CowboysMomma

Therefore, if your conditions allow you to grow an apricot, and you need a fast-growing tree, then you can opt for it. Apricot not only gives delicious fruits, but is also certainly beautiful (one of the first to bloom profusely in spring, decorates the garden with bright foliage in autumn). But since I already have two apricots in my garden, I decided not to increase their number, fearing not to cope with the harvest. Yes, and as planned, that part of the garden where the neighbor's house appeared should be decorative, not fruit.

Rumelian pine

A few years ago at an exhibition-fair I bought an unusual seedling of Rumelian pine ( Pinus peuce ), seduced by a very low price, and planted it in my country house.

As it turned out later, the low cost of this tree is due to the fact that it is a species, not a varietal specimen, and the seedlings of the breed grow incredibly fast. Now, looking at my pine tree, I just can't believe my eyes.

Rumelian pine (Pinus peuce). © stringfixer.com

Even "yesterday" it was a "blade" 20 cm high, and today it is already a two-meter tree, and it has become so in three years. This year it even got its first bump. I have not seen such long growths in any of my coniferous pets. Therefore, if you think that all conifers grow slowly, then the Rumelian pine will cross out these ideas.

The appearance of this pine cannot leave you indifferent, it has very thin bluish needles, pleasant to the touch and not prickly at all (I really like to stroke it). The cones are long and slender, the trunk is smooth, and the crown is like that of Scots pine. Outwardly, it is very similar to the Weymouth pine, but it is not at all affected by rust.

I would definitely plant a similar pine tree on a new site to close the neighbor's house, if not for one "but".

It is a species, not a variety, and its height can be unpredictable. In particular, in the encyclopedia it is described as a tree 10-20 m high. And this, you see, is too wide a spread. And 20 meters for 10 acres, especially on the south side, is still too much.

Flexible pine "VanderWulf Pyramid"

Having studied the entire range of nurseries in our city, I came to the conclusion that Pinus flexilis ‘Vanderwolf’s Pyramid’ ( Pinus flexilis ‘Vanderwolf’s Pyramid’ ). First, it is one of the fastest growing. Its growth can be about a meter per year, and after 5 years the height of the seedlings will be about 4 m, which will practically close the neighboring windows. At the same time, this tree has a rather narrow crown, up to 3 m in diameter, and if over time it raises its crown, then it will not take up much space on the site.

Flexible pine (Pinus flexilis), Vanderwolf's Pyramid cultivar. © plantmaster

In addition, this variety is completely winter-hardy (up to -34 degrees) in our area, does not burn or freeze slightly, is rarely affected by diseases and pests.

And, finally, it is an extremely beautiful tree with bluish, soft-touch needles and a regular pyramidal crown.

I am also pleased that this is an evergreen tree, that is, it will perform its masking function all year round. And, of course, pine is a long-liver, and in a good scenario, it can remind descendants of me for 300 years or more. The final height of the tree will have to be 10-13 m. This is a lot, but quite tolerable compared to 20-40-meter species pines.

Read also our article Spectacular pines on the site - planting, formation, types and varieties.

Bird cherry "Shubert"

Bird cherry "Shubert" ( Prunus virginiana ‘Shubert’ ) is another good variant of fast-growing, relatively low trees, but this breed with some reservations. I liked this bird cherry for a very long time, and it's really hard not to fall in love with it. Bird cherry "Schubert" has dense large leaf blades up to 13 cm long.

It blooms very beautifully in spring with clusters of white flowers, exuding the same bird cherry aroma, and large black berries appear to replace the flowers. They are larger and sweeter than those of the "wild" bird cherry and, as they say, do not knit at all in the mouth.

Red-leaved bird cherry (Prunus virginiana), variety "Shubert" (Shubert). © Todd_Boland

In the spring, the leaves of the Schubert bird cherry are green, but around the end of June they gradually begin to turn burgundy, and the tree is so elegant almost all summer, the autumn color is orange-red.

Bird cherry is a record holder in terms of growth rate and can produce growths of about 1 m per year or more. The height of an adult tree is 6-10 m. The crown is narrow – up to 2-3 m. It would seem that not plants, but a dream. But not everything is so smooth. Unfortunately, the main scourge of this plant is fungal diseases, in particular, clasterosporiasis (holes in leaf blades) and powdery mildew.

In search of the truth, I studied many reviews of gardeners who grow red-leaved bird cherry, and concluded for myself that the plant has much more advantages, and diseases can be successfully fought.

Moreover, usually they only slightly spoil the view, but do not completely destroy the tree. In addition, I often met red-leaved bird cherry in front gardens, and it looked great, and did not at all give the impression of a diseased tree.

What did I choose?

So, what kind of plants did I end up buying to cover my neighbor's house? As you might have guessed, they turned out to be two seedlings of the VanderWulf Pyramid pine. But due to the high price of pines, I could not afford large-sized ones, and even despite the rapid growth, they will be able to complete the task, at least partially, not earlier than in 3-4 years.

In connection with them, I bought two seedlings of bird cherry "Schubert". Their price is significantly lower, so it is possible to plant already grown trees, which will serve as a curtain from neighbors much faster. And if the red-leaved bird cherry really turns out to be a problem tree, then it can be tolerated for several years, and then removed when the pines grow up and take on the main function.

But still, I hope for the best, because blue pines and burgundy bird cherry in a pair look incredibly beautiful and amazingly complement each other. But, most importantly, the huge neighbor's house no longer feels like a disturber of my peace.

+9 fast growing fruit trees for the garden

Do you want to collect a lot of fruit in a short time? If so, don't miss our list of 6 Fast Growing Fruit Trees that can't be missing in your garden or garden, because also, if you're looking for trees that provide shade, we offer some very interesting ones.

All of them can be pruned in the autumn or towards the end of winter so that they do not grow too tall and, by the way, to make it easier for you to harvest. Open them.

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