Windbreaks and Shelterbelts

What does a windbreak do?

A windbreak is a planting of trees or shrubs that slows wind. Extension and NRCS guidance describe benefits such as shelter for livestock and buildings, reduced snow drifting onto lanes, protection for crops and gardens, and wildlife habitat. Effects depend on the design and the site.

Protection extends downwind a distance tied to the height of the trees, which is why the mature height matters more than the size at planting.

Think about snow before you plant. A windbreak placed too close to a lane or a barn door can cause drifts exactly where you do not want them, while one set back a proper distance holds snow before it reaches the area you want clear. Observing last winter's drifts helps you decide.

How do you work out where the wind comes from?

Observe the direction of the strongest winds, especially in winter or during storm seasons, and note where snow drifts and where animals seek shelter. Local weather records and your extension office or NRCS service center can describe prevailing wind patterns.

Place the windbreak across the main wind direction, at a distance from the thing you are protecting that allows for tree height and for snow to settle.

Gaps cause trouble. A break in the row, such as a gate, a lane, or a dead tree, funnels wind and makes it stronger at that point. Plan gates and equipment access so they do not line up with the main wind, and replace dead trees early. Ask a neighbor with an older windbreak what they would change, because their experience with drifting, gaps, and pests is local and useful.

• Note prevailing wind direction in the seasons that matter most
• Mark where snow drifts form
• Keep the planting off septic fields, wells, and utility lines
• Allow room for equipment to maintain it

What are rows, density, and height?

Designs vary from a single row of shrubs to several rows of mixed trees and shrubs. Denser plantings block more wind but create a sharp drop of wind behind them, while somewhat open ones filter it over a longer distance. The NRCS standard for windbreaks lists the design factors that matter, and your local office can apply them to your site.

Taller trees protect a larger area, but they also take longer to establish.

Livestock windbreaks differ from field ones. Animals need protection close to their shelter, and the design must leave room for feeding, cleaning, and drainage. Muddy, wet ground behind the windbreak can undo the benefit, so ask your NRCS or extension office about layouts that work.

Which species should you plant?

Mix evergreens and deciduous trees and shrubs suited to your soils and climate, and choose species that are not invasive. Mixed plantings are less likely to be lost to a single pest or disease. Your state forestry agency, conservation district, or extension office can provide lists, and many sell low-cost seedlings.

Choose species by mature size, growth rate, and tolerance of your soil moisture and cold.

Combine a windbreak with other goals. Rows can also provide wildlife cover, berries for birds, or a visual screen, but each added purpose changes the species list. Decide your priorities first and ask your forester or extension agent to review the plan before you order trees.

How do you establish one?

Prepare the site, control weeds, plant in rows with proper spacing, and protect seedlings. Weed control and watering in the first years decide success more than anything else. Fencing or tree guards keep deer and livestock out. Plant by soil conditions and local advice, not a fixed date.

Plan for replacement of losses in the first years.

• Prepare the site and control grass before planting
• Space trees as the design calls for
• Water, weed, and protect for the first seasons
• Replace dead trees promptly

What maintenance does it need?

Check for damage after storms, remove dead trees, keep weeds down, watch for pests, and thin when crowding develops. Renovation may be needed as a windbreak ages and gaps open.

Keep livestock out unless the design allows them, since grazing and trampling can damage roots and thin the planting.

What does it cost and what rules apply?

Costs include seedlings, site preparation, fabric or mulch, fencing or guards, watering, and labor over several years. NRCS and state forestry programs may offer technical help and cost-share, so ask. Setbacks from roads, property lines, and utilities are local and vary by county and town, so check with your zoning office before planting.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Homestead & Small Farm Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.