At this distance the tree roots will not use stored water from the dugout. Small-leaved shrubs or conifers can be planted as close as 20 m from the dugout as the small leaves or needles are not carried into the dugout by the wind. Topography and soil texture must be considered in the shelterbelt design so that meltwater does not cause gullying, especially on steep slopes. Potential problems can be minimized by constructing drainage channels or grassed waterways to control the flow of surface water and to reduce the risk of erosion. Recommended Species and Spacing Dense, drought-tolerant trees and shrubs are recommended for planting near dugouts.
Caragana is long-lived, bushy shrub with small leaves.
It is well suited for reducing windvelocity and trapping snow. Scots pine is a coniferous species which sheds old needles periodically but accumulates very little litter. Scots pine is faster growing than either white spruce or Colorado spruce. Both Colorado spruce and white spruce will eventually provide a dense, year-round shelterbelt. X X X Maintenance Cultivate the planting site for one year prior to planting the trees to reduce competition from grass and weeds.