Fast Growing Small Trees – Your Complete Guide To Quick Privacy

ByRimon Chowdhury Updated on

Are you tired of staring at a bare fence or a new yard that feels a little… empty? It’s a common feeling for gardeners. You have a vision for a lush, private oasis, but the thought of waiting a decade for tiny saplings to mature can feel disheartening.

Well, I’m here to share a little secret from my years in the garden: you don’t have to wait that long. The solution lies in choosing the right fast growing small trees, and I promise to show you exactly how to select, plant, and care for them to achieve the garden of your dreams in record time.

Imagine enjoying cool shade, beautiful blossoms, and a natural privacy screen in just a few seasons. It’s completely possible!

In this complete fast growing small trees guide, we’ll explore the best varieties for any space, share my tried-and-true planting tips for rapid growth, cover a simple long-term care routine, and even tackle some common problems so you can plant with confidence. Let’s get growing!

Why Choose Fast Growing Small Trees? Unpacking the Benefits

Before we dig into our favorite species, let’s talk about why these trees are such a fantastic choice for modern gardens. The benefits of fast growing small trees go far beyond just speed. They are practical, beautiful, and can solve many common landscape challenges quickly.

Here’s why so many gardeners, including myself, have come to love them:

  • Quick Privacy & Screening: This is often the number one reason! A well-placed row of fast-growing trees can block an unsightly view or shield your patio from neighbors’ windows in just a couple of years, not a decade.
  • Faster Shade & Cooling: An empty yard can be scorching in the summer. These trees quickly create a canopy that provides welcome relief from the sun, which can even help reduce your home cooling costs.
  • Instant Curb Appeal: A small, well-shaped tree adds immediate structure, height, and a focal point to your landscape design. It makes a new house feel like a home and gives an established garden a fresh look.
  • Supporting Local Wildlife Sooner: Birds, bees, and butterflies won’t have to wait long to find shelter and food. Flowering and berry-producing varieties become a valuable part of the local ecosystem much faster than their slower-growing cousins.
  • Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Impact: Choosing sustainable fast growing small trees means you’re quickly contributing to air quality, reducing stormwater runoff, and creating a healthier environment right in your own backyard.

Our Top 10 Picks: The Best Fast Growing Small Trees for Your Garden

Ready to find your perfect match? After years of planting, observing, and sometimes making mistakes, I’ve compiled a list of reliable, beautiful, and speedy growers. There’s something here for every garden style and need!

1. Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)

Often called the “lilac of the South,” this tree is a showstopper. Its long-lasting summer blooms in shades of pink, purple, red, and white are simply stunning, followed by beautiful fall color and interesting peeling bark in winter.

  • Mature Size: 15-25 feet tall, 15-25 feet wide (many smaller cultivars available)
  • Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
  • Sunlight: Full sun
  • Why We Love It: Four-season interest and incredible drought tolerance once established.

2. Prairifire Crabapple (Malus ‘Prairifire’)

Don’t let the name fool you—this is one of the most disease-resistant crabapples you can plant. It erupts in a cloud of vibrant pinkish-red flowers in spring, followed by glossy green leaves and tiny, persistent red fruits that birds adore in winter.

  • Mature Size: 15-20 feet tall and wide
  • Growth Rate: 1-2 feet per year
  • Sunlight: Full sun
  • Why We Love It: Outstanding spring color and a reputation for being tough and reliable.

3. Royal Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata ‘Royal Star’)

For an elegant spring display, nothing beats a magnolia. ‘Royal Star’ is a smaller, multi-stemmed variety that covers itself in fragrant, star-shaped white flowers before the leaves even appear. It’s a breathtaking sight to welcome the new season.

  • Mature Size: 10-15 feet tall, 10-12 feet wide
  • Growth Rate: 1-2 feet per year
  • Sunlight: Full sun to part shade
  • Why We Love It: An early and prolific bloomer that fits perfectly in smaller gardens.

4. Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)

A native beauty, the Redbud signals the true arrival of spring with its unique pink-purple flowers that bloom directly on the branches and trunk. Its heart-shaped leaves are lovely all summer and often turn a pretty yellow in the fall.

  • Mature Size: 20-30 feet tall, 25-35 feet wide
  • Growth Rate: 1-2 feet per year
  • Sunlight: Full sun to part shade
  • Why We Love It: It’s a hardy, adaptable, and eco-friendly fast growing small trees choice that supports native pollinators.

5. Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.)

This is the ultimate multi-tasker! The Serviceberry offers delicate white spring flowers, delicious blueberry-like summer fruits (if you can get them before the birds do!), and brilliant orange-red fall color. It often grows as a multi-stemmed tree, giving it a natural, graceful look.

  • Mature Size: 15-25 feet tall and wide
  • Growth Rate: 1-2 feet per year
  • Sunlight: Full sun to part shade
  • Why We Love It: It provides beauty and edible rewards through three seasons.

6. River Birch (Betula nigra)

If you have a spot with moist soil, a River Birch is a fantastic choice. Valued for its stunning peeling bark that reveals shades of cream, salmon, and tan, it provides year-round interest. It typically grows with multiple trunks, creating a beautiful silhouette.

  • Mature Size: 40-70 feet tall (can be kept smaller with pruning), 25-35 feet wide
  • Growth Rate: 2-3+ feet per year
  • Sunlight: Full sun to part shade
  • Why We Love It: Incredibly fast growth and gorgeous, unique bark.

7. Emerald Green Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’)

When you need a privacy screen, this is the gold standard. These evergreen trees grow in a tight, narrow, pyramidal shape, so you don’t have to do much pruning. Planted in a row, they form a dense, living green wall in just a few years.

  • Mature Size: 12-15 feet tall, 3-4 feet wide
  • Growth Rate: 1-2 feet per year
  • Sunlight: Full sun
  • Why We Love It: Low-maintenance, holds its deep green color all winter, and is perfect for narrow spaces.

8. Weeping Cherry (Prunus pendula)

For pure, romantic beauty, the Weeping Cherry is unmatched. Its graceful, cascading branches are completely smothered in pink or white blossoms in early spring. It creates a stunning focal point in any garden.

  • Mature Size: 20-30 feet tall, 15-25 feet wide (depending on graft height)
  • Growth Rate: 1-2 feet per year
  • Sunlight: Full sun
  • Why We Love It: Its dramatic weeping form and spectacular spring flower show.

9. October Glory Red Maple (Acer rubrum ‘October Glory’)

If you want jaw-dropping fall color, look no further. While many maples get huge, this cultivar stays more manageable. It has nice green leaves all summer, but in the fall it ignites into brilliant shades of orange and fiery red.

  • Mature Size: 40-50 feet tall, 25-35 feet wide
  • Growth Rate: 2-3 feet per year
  • Sunlight: Full sun to part shade
  • Why We Love It: One of the most reliable and intensely colored trees for autumn.

10. Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera)

This one is for those with a bit more space who want height fast. The Tulip Poplar is a majestic native tree with unique tulip-shaped flowers in late spring and bright yellow fall color. It grows ramrod straight and provides wonderful shade.

  • Mature Size: 60-90 feet tall, 30-50 feet wide
  • Growth Rate: 2-3+ feet per year
  • Sunlight: Full sun
  • Why We Love It: Unbeatable growth speed and a stately, impressive presence.

Your Step-by-Step Guide: How to Plant for Rapid Success

You’ve picked your tree—fantastic! Now comes the most important part. Giving your tree a great start is the secret of how to fast growing small trees can reach their full potential. Follow these steps, and you’ll be setting your new friend up for a long, healthy, and vigorous life.

  1. Choose the Right Spot: Before you even dig, observe the sunlight in your chosen location. “Full sun” means 6+ hours of direct sun per day. Also, think about the tree’s mature size. Don’t plant a 20-foot-wide tree just 5 feet from your house!
  2. Prepare the Soil: Most trees aren’t too picky, but they all love well-drained soil. If you have heavy clay or very sandy soil, amend the entire planting bed (not just the hole) with a few inches of compost to improve its structure and fertility.
  3. Dig the Perfect Hole: This is a classic beginner mistake! Dig the hole 2-3 times wider than the root ball, but no deeper. The spot where the trunk flares out to meet the roots (the root flare) should be visible and slightly above ground level after planting.
  4. Plant with Care: Gently remove the tree from its container. If the roots are tightly circling, use your fingers or a small knife to gently tease them apart so they’ll grow outward. Place the tree in the center of the hole, making sure it’s straight from all angles.
  5. Backfill and Water: Fill the hole back in with the native soil you removed. Don’t add a ton of fertilizer or rich soil just to the hole, as this can discourage the roots from expanding. Once filled, create a small soil berm around the edge of the hole to form a water basin.
  6. Water Deeply: This is the most crucial step. Water the newly planted tree slowly and deeply, letting the water soak all the way down. This settles the soil and eliminates air pockets. For the first few weeks, your tree will need consistent moisture.
  7. Mulch, Mulch, Mulch! Apply a 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch (like shredded bark or wood chips) around the base of the tree, but don’t let it touch the trunk! This “mulch donut” retains moisture, suppresses weeds, and regulates soil temperature.

The Ultimate Fast Growing Small Trees Care Guide

Planting is just the beginning. To keep your tree happy and growing quickly, you’ll want to follow a few fast growing small trees best practices. Don’t worry—it’s easier than you think! This simple fast growing small trees care guide will cover the essentials.

Watering Wisely for Strong Roots

For the first year, your tree is focused on establishing its root system. Water deeply once or twice a week, especially during hot, dry weather. The goal is to moisten the entire root zone, not just the surface. After the first year, most of these trees are quite drought-tolerant and will only need watering during extended droughts.

Feeding Your Tree for Vigorous Growth

Fast-growing trees are hungry! A slow-release, balanced fertilizer formulated for trees and shrubs applied once in the early spring is usually sufficient. You can also top-dress the soil with a fresh layer of compost each year. This provides a gentle, steady supply of nutrients.

Pruning for Health and Shape

One of the trade-offs for speed is that these trees can sometimes develop weak branches or awkward shapes if left unchecked. Plan to do light structural pruning in late winter or early spring while the tree is dormant. Your goal is to remove any dead, damaged, or crossing branches and to encourage a strong central leader (main trunk).

Eco-Friendly Pest & Disease Management

A healthy tree is the best defense against pests and diseases. By choosing a disease-resistant variety and providing proper water and nutrients, you’ve already won half the battle. If you do spot a problem, try to identify it and use the most sustainable fast growing small trees solution first, like insecticidal soap or horticultural oil, before reaching for harsh chemicals.

Navigating Common Problems with Fast Growing Small Trees

Knowledge is power! Being aware of the potential downsides helps you make better choices and care for your tree properly. Here are a few common problems with fast growing small trees and how to handle them.

  • Weak or Brittle Wood: Some rapid growers, like Tulip Poplars or Silver Maples, can be more prone to branch breakage in storms. The fix: Proper structural pruning when the tree is young helps develop a stronger framework. Avoid planting these specific types right next to your house.
  • Surface Roots: Trees that need a lot of oxygen at their roots (like maples) can sometimes develop large roots at the soil surface, which can disrupt lawns and walkways. The fix: Plant them in an open area or a mulched bed where surface roots won’t be an issue.
  • Outgrowing Their Space: This is the most common problem of all! A cute little tree from the nursery can become a monster if you haven’t planned for its mature size. The fix: Always, always read the plant tag and believe it. Measure your space and choose a tree that will fit comfortably when fully grown.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fast Growing Small Trees

What is the absolute fastest-growing small tree for privacy?

For a narrow, evergreen screen, the Emerald Green Arborvitae is tough to beat. It grows into a dense hedge quickly without getting too wide. For a deciduous option, the River Birch can create a beautiful, airy screen very fast, especially if you have moist soil.

Can I plant a fast-growing small tree in a large container?

Yes, some of them! Smaller varieties like a dwarf Crape Myrtle or a ‘Royal Star’ Magnolia can do well in a very large pot (think half-whiskey-barrel size) for several years. Just be prepared to water and fertilize more frequently, as containers dry out quickly.

Do fast-growing trees have shorter lifespans?

Generally speaking, yes. There is often a trade-off between growth speed and longevity. A slow-growing oak might live for centuries, while a fast-growing poplar might only live for 50-70 years. However, for most home garden situations, this is still a very long and enjoyable lifespan!

When is the best time of year to plant these trees?

The best times to plant are in the fall or early spring. Planting in the fall gives the roots a chance to get established during the cool, moist weather before the stress of summer heat. Spring planting is also excellent, as it allows the tree a full growing season to settle in.

Your Garden’s Transformation Awaits

There you have it—everything you need to choose, plant, and nurture a beautiful tree that won’t make you wait. By selecting the right variety and following these simple fast growing small trees tips, you can create the shade, privacy, and beauty you’ve been dreaming of sooner than you ever thought possible.

Remember that the most important step is simply getting started. A tree planted today is a gift to your future self and to the environment.

Happy planting, and enjoy watching your gorgeous garden come to life!

Rimon Chowdhury
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