30-03-2004, 07:32 AM
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Train noise block
From: "David J Bockman"
1. What is there now, and will you be felling those trees to make this
screen?
I will not be taking any down to plant this screen. I noticed swamp maple and
slippery elm don't know what else is back there. Only 3 trees have any girth,
rest are scrawney.
2. With regard to rr right of way buffer: If the railroad people think that
a tree is encroaching and/or might fall across the tracks, they'll drop it.
So, plant accordingly.
Ok, good advice.
Colorado Blue Spruce -- Picea pungens glauca
Lovely tree, slow growing, 'blueness' varies widely with regard to
individual specimens and growing conditions. Good for zone 6. A whole wall
of them might be a little much.
OK, maybe just one since they are so slow to grow
Thuja "Green Giant" --
Very good choice.
Yeah, this is the one. Grows at a good clip, gets tall and looks good without
pruning.
American Arborvitae -- Thuja occidentalis 'American'
Another good choice, although as it ages a bit more ratty looking than the
others.
Russian Olive -- Elaeagnus angustifolia
Deciduous, drought tolerant, the ones I have seen have been more shrubby
than tree-like. How tall does your screen have to be?
Don't really know. I don't really want to blot out the view of the train, just
deaden the noise somewhat.
Canadian Hemlock --
Not a good choice if the sight is full sun. Also prone to wooly adelgid
attacks and slow growing.
Douglas Fir -- Pseudotsuga taxifola
Very large choice, fine for this application IMHO.
I read good things in re this tree but hesitate because it mentions aphid
problems
Siberian Elm --
Ulmus pumilla. Bleh. Trash tree. Avoid. Weak wood, prone to watersprouts.
Deciduous.
Christmas Holly -- Ilex Opaca hybrids
Splendid. Slow growing however.
Perhaps a mixture of a few of these trees might make for a more naturalistic
screen rather than a monoculture. You've left out the quintessential
evergreen screening tree, Leyland cypress, aka X CUPRESSOCYPARIS
LEYLANDII, more recently renamed to x Cuprocyparis leylandii.
Taxus x media 'Hicksii' is another good choice.
Dave
Thanks Dave for your time and insight.
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