WINDBREAKS & PRIVACY · BISMARCK, ND
Windbreaks and Privacy Trees for Bismarck
The best windbreak trees for Bismarck are dense evergreens like Black Hills spruce, ponderosa pine, Rocky Mountain juniper and eastern red-cedar. Back them with tough shrubs and a few hardy deciduous trees. Plant on the north and west sides, the way Iowa State Extension recommends, and use more than one kind of tree so one pest can’t wipe out the whole row.
Placement matters as much as the trees. A dense row too close to the house or driveway can make snow pile up right where you don’t want it. On a city lot, you’re usually building a privacy screen that slows the wind, not a full farm-style windbreak, and that’s fine.
CHOOSE YOUR PURPOSE
Windbreak or Privacy Screen? Know Which You’re Building
| Windbreak | Privacy screen | |
|---|---|---|
| Main job | Slow wind and control snow across a big area | Block the view from the street or neighbors |
| Size | Several rows, ideally | Usually one staggered row |
| Where | Acreages and rural lots | City lots in Bismarck, Mandan and Lincoln |
| Best plants | Mix of evergreens, deciduous trees and shrubs | Upright evergreens and dense shrubs |
HOW WIND MOVES
How a Windbreak Works
The Nebraska Forest Service explains windbreaks using tree height, called H:
- Upwind, wind slows for a distance of 2 to 5 times the height of the trees.
- Downwind, wind speed drops for up to 30 times the height.
- Density matters. A windbreak that’s 40 to 60% dense gives the largest protected area downwind.
- To trap snow in one place, windbreaks are usually 60 to 80% dense, with several rows.
- Too thin or too thick hurts. Below 20% density, there’s little useful wind reduction. Above 80%, turbulence behind the trees cuts the protection farther out.
Here’s what that means in plain terms. A dense row of 30-foot spruce catches snow and drops it on the downwind side. That’s great for keeping snow off a yard 100 feet away. It’s not great if your driveway is right behind the trees.
PLANNING THE LOCATION
Where to Put It
Iowa State Extension’s windbreak guide, last reviewed in November 2023, says:
- Plant on the north and west sides of what you’re protecting.
- Don’t enclose all four sides, or you create “a ‘dead air pocket.'”
- Stay at least 100 feet from the house and buildings, and no more than about 350 to 400 feet. Closer than that blocks summer breezes and piles snow near the house.
- Run it 50 to 100 feet past the buildings on the south and east ends, so snow doesn’t drift around the ends.
On a Bismarck acreage north or east of town, that’s doable. On a city lot, it isn’t, so keep dense evergreens back from the driveway and front walk, and expect some drifting on the downwind side of any thick row. NDSU also notes spruce roots can spread “as far as four or five times the height of the tree,” so leave room.
SPECIES FOR OUR CLIMATE
Best Windbreak and Privacy Trees for Bismarck
These come from NDSU Extension, the City of Bismarck’s 2023 street tree guide and the USDA Bismarck Plant Materials Center.
Evergreens
| Tree | Size and notes |
|---|---|
| Black Hills spruce | On NDSU’s recommended list |
| Meyer spruce | On NDSU’s recommended list |
| Ponderosa pine | About 60 × 30 ft. Salt tolerant, per the city guide. |
| Rocky Mountain juniper | NDSU calls it “very drought resistant and long-lived” |
| Eastern red-cedar | Same NDSU note as Rocky Mountain juniper |
| Limber pine | NDSU says it’s “tolerant of alkaline soils” |
| Scotch pine | About 45 × 30 ft. NDSU says, “Do not overplant.” Iowa State also says to use it sparingly. |
Deciduous Trees
| Tree | Size and notes |
|---|---|
| Bur oak | About 65 × 60 ft. Native and very drought resistant, per the city guide. |
| Hackberry | About 50 × 45 ft. Native. The city guide notes it’s sensitive to salt, so keep it off the road edge. |
| Pekin lilac | About 30 × 25 ft. Salt tolerant, per the city guide. |
Skip ash. Emerald ash borer was found in Bismarck in August 2026.
Shrubs
Shrubs make the low, dense outer row of a windbreak, or a hedge on their own.
- Lilac: Iowa State lists it for windbreak shrub rows, and it’s a longtime Dakota hedge plant
- Diabolo ninebark: NDSU calls it “tough as nails”
- Silver buffaloberry: native. The Bismarck Plant Materials Center released a ‘Sakakawea’ selection.
- Potentilla and juniper, for lower screens
PLANTING DISTANCE
How Far Apart to Plant
Iowa State’s windbreak spacing:
| Plant type | Space within the row |
|---|---|
| Large evergreens, like spruce and pine | 16 to 25 feet |
| Small evergreens, like juniper and red-cedar | 10 to 15 feet |
| Deciduous trees | 8 to 15 feet |
| Shrubs | 3 to 10 feet |
Keep at least 16 feet between rows, and stagger the trees so each one fills a gap in the row ahead. Iowa State says eight rows is ideal on a farmstead, three rows is the minimum that works, and a single row is “not recommended” for a true windbreak.
Near a property line, use the tree’s mature width. A ponderosa pine about 30 feet wide needs to be at least 15 feet from the line to stay on your side. A tree planted 3 feet from the fence will end up hanging over it.
CITY LOTS
Privacy Screens on a City Lot
On a typical Bismarck lot, one staggered row of upright evergreens or a shrub hedge is usually the right call.
- For year-round privacy, use evergreens. Lilac and ninebark lose their leaves, so they screen best in summer.
- Be careful with arborvitae in hot, windy spots. It’s often hit by winter burn, especially on a bare south or west side. See evergreen winter burn.
- Mix it up. Iowa State says to use as many species as you can to limit losses.
- Look up. Keep tall trees out from under overhead lines. Montana-Dakota Utilities says never to trim limbs near electric lines yourself.
- Stay off the boulevard. That strip belongs to the city and needs a Forestry permit. See boulevard tree permits.
- Call 811 at least two full business days before digging, per NDSU Extension.
ESTABLISHMENT
The First Three Years
The North Dakota NRCS windbreak fact sheet says:
- Plant at the right depth, with the top root no more than 1 inch below the soil surface.
- Keep weeds out of a 4-foot circle around each plant from spring to August.
- Water when it’s dry. “During the first three years, add water when soil at the plant, one inch below the surface, is not moist to touch.”
A few more Bismarck basics:
- Mulch each tree with shredded bark, but keep it off the trunk. See the 3-3-3 mulch ring.
- Guard young trees from rabbits over winter. See protecting trees from rabbits and deer.
- Water evergreens deeply in fall before the ground freezes, which helps prevent winter burn.
THINGS TO AVOID
Common Windbreak Mistakes
- One species in a long row, which one pest can wipe out
- Dense evergreens right next to the driveway, which catch snow and drop it on the drive
- A single row where you actually need wind and snow control
- Planting too close to the house, a fence or each other
- Overplanting Scotch pine, which NDSU and Iowa State both warn about
- Ash trees, now that emerald ash borer is here
- Skipping water and weeding in the first three years
For acreages, the North Dakota NRCS fact sheet recommends a site-specific plan from your local NRCS or Soil Conservation District office.
Questions
Windbreak & Privacy Tree FAQ
Practical answers about winter winds, tree spacing, and privacy in Bismarck.
Planning a windbreak or privacy screen?
Call to discuss tree choices and their placement.
What trees make a good windbreak in Bismarck?
Dense evergreens like Black Hills spruce, Meyer spruce, ponderosa pine, Rocky Mountain juniper and eastern red-cedar, backed by shrubs like lilac and silver buffaloberry and tough deciduous trees like bur oak and hackberry. Mix several species so one pest can’t take out the whole row.
Which side of the house should a windbreak go on?
The north and west sides, according to Iowa State Extension. Don’t enclose all four sides, which creates a dead air pocket.
How far from the house should a windbreak be?
Iowa State Extension says at least 100 feet from the house and buildings, and no more than about 350 to 400 feet. Closer plantings block summer breezes and pile snow near the house. On city lots, keep dense evergreens back from the driveway.
What is the fastest privacy screen in North Dakota?
Shrubs usually fill in sooner than evergreens, and lilac is a longtime Dakota hedge plant. But lilac drops its leaves in winter. For year-round privacy, plant upright evergreens like juniper or spruce, and accept that they take longer.
How far apart should windbreak trees be planted?
Iowa State Extension suggests 16 to 25 feet within the row for large evergreens, 10 to 15 feet for small evergreens, 8 to 15 feet for deciduous trees and 3 to 10 feet for shrubs, with at least 16 feet between rows.
Is arborvitae good for privacy in Bismarck?
It can work in a sheltered spot, but arborvitae is often hit by winter burn in a hot, windy location. Avoid a bare south or west side, water it deeply in fall, and consider juniper or spruce for exposed spots.
Bismarck Landscape
Planning a Windbreak or Screen?
We’ll look at your lot, the wind and where the snow lands, then plan a mix of trees and shrubs that fits. Call Bismarck Landscape at (701) 299-0740.
See our contact options. For full planting plans, see landscape design in Bismarck.