What began as a decorative planting in a city park has developed into a love affair with an evergreen tree that may hold one of the keys to solving a major problem on the prairies and pastures of the High Plains. Three years ago, we planted a memorial garden for my mother in our local city park.
A recommendation to include some Arizona Cypress trees has resulted in some beautiful evergreens that are thriving and creating a centerpiece for the planted areas. Their success encouraged me to add five more Arizona cypress to fill in some 'dead space' in our aging shelterbelt. And now I've learned that the trees are being considered as good possibilities for windbreaks, since they can take dry desert conditions, require little maintenance, and do not exhibit much of an ability to spread, making them much more acceptable than the red cedar. When planting for windbreaks, consider a six foot spacing, and provide adequate moisture for the first two years to give them a good start. For more information about the availability of Arizona Cypress, give me a phone call or send me an email.
