Shelter Styles

There is always a need to provide shelter from the weather, to screen unwanted views, or to define a boundary. There are many New Zealand Native Plants that can be utilised.

 

One Species Shelter

This is the traditional style where only one plant species is used. This style gives a very neat appearance with uniform colour and size and is a style that is probably best where there is little space and a narrow trimmed edge is needed.

 

Dual Species Shelter

Two species are used – one usually being fast growing and planted to give protection to the slower growing plants which will eventually be the main shelter. This style requires more space but gives greater protection and has more aesthetic appeal.

 

Mixed Shelter

Here a number of species are used together in a row several plants deep. Such a shelter belt not only gives shelter from the wind but also provides a habitat for wild life and gives a very varied and interesting effect. This style is ideal where space is not a problem and a multi-purpose shelter is required. Generally this type of shelter would not be trimmed and could include species not generally considered for this purpose. Some species would be chosen for their sheltering capacity but others may be selected for other reasons, eg. to encourage birds, firewood and/or timber. The mixed shelter concept is used extensively in Europe in hedgerows and provides a natural looking multi-purpose shelter.

 

Planting Suggestions

Generally plants selected for shelter purposes must meet the following criteria:

• Moderately fast growing
• Tolerant to wind
• Responsive to trimming
• Relatively disease resistant

The speed of growth and the eventual height of any species will depend on the kind of growing conditions. Where sites are exposed with poor dry soils, growth will obviously be far slower than on more sheltered fertile sites. Many species can be maintained as hedges of a much lower height than they would naturally attain by annual trimming.

There are numerous species not mentioned here which can be incorporated into the mixed shelter belt concepts quite happily. Planting some of the main shelter species provides a protected environment for many other plants.

Species	Common Name	Height	Growth Rate	Wind Tolerance	Special Features/Uses
Brachyglottis greyii		1m	Fast	Ex	Good low hedge.Coast.Clips
Cassinia sp.	Cottonwood	1m	Fast	Ex	Ex rigorous coastal conditions
Coprosma propinqua		2m	Fast	Ex	Very twiggy dense effect
Coprosma repens	Taupata	2m+	Fast	Ex	Ex coastal shelter. Frost tender
Corokia species	Corokia	1-2m	Fast	Ex	Ex coastal shelter
Dodonea viscosa	Akeake	4m	Fast	Good	Coastal. Fairly open form
Griselinia littoralis	Broadleaf	4m	Mod F	Ex	Coastal and inland. Quite dense
Griselinia lucida	Akapuka	3m	Mod F	Good	Good for coastal shelter
Hoheria species	Lacebark	4m	Fast	Fair	Good for screening & with other trees
Knightia excelsa	Rewarewa	10m+	Mod F	Good	Good main shelter tree. Tall narrow form
Kunzea ericoides	Kanuka	6m	Fast	Good	V. versatile. Gd. firewood tree. Trims well
Leptospermum scoparium	Manuka	4m	Fast	Ex	Very hardy. Gd nurse plant & firewood
Lophomyrtus species	Ramarama	3m	Mod F	Fair	Good ornamental hedge. Clips well
Metrosideros excelsa	Pohutukawa	10m+	Mod F	Ex	Main coastal shelter. Flowers a feature. Trims
Metrosideros kermadencensis	Pohutukawa	10m+	Mod F	Ex	Frost tender. Coastal
Muehlenbeckia astonii		1m	Mod F	Ex	Deciduous & wiry. Exposed coastal sites
Myoporum laetum	Ngaio	6m	Fast	Ex	Exposed coastal sites. Will trim
Myrsine australis	Matipou	3m	Mod F	Fair	Dense & bushy. Colourful foliage
Nothofagus fusca	Beech	10m+	Mod F	Good	Main shelter. Clips well. Timber tree
Olearia albida	Tree Daisy	3m	Fast	Good	Thick bushy shelter. Clips well
Olearia angulata		3m	Fast	Ex	Coastal dry sites. Bushy. Trims well
Olearia paniculata		3m	Fast	Ex	Coastal dry. Perfumed flowers. Trims well
Olearia traversii		4m	Fast	Ex	Tall & thin form. Coastal and dry
Olearia virgata		4m	Fast	Ex	Fine feathery leaves and full form
Phormium species	Flax	1-2m	Fast	Ex	Good low shelter. Coastal wet or dry.
Pittosporum crassifolium	Karo	6m	Mod F	Ex	Coastal exposed. Trims well
Pittosporum eugenioides	Lemonwood	6m	Fast	Good	Bushy to base. Trims well
Pittosporum tenuifolium	Kohuhu	6m	Fast	Good	Attractive foliage. Trims well.
Plagianthus regius	Ribbonwood	8m	Fast	Good	Good mixed with other species. Damp sites
Plagianthus divaricatus	Shore ribbonwood	1.5m	Fast	Ex	Severe coastal sites and salt marshes
Podocarpus totara	Totara	10m+	Slow	Good	Main shelter or Timber. Clips well
Pomaderis apetala	Tainui	4m	Mod F	Ex	Coastal.
Pseudopanax arboreus	Five Finger	3m	Mod F	Good	Very bushy form
Pseudopanax laetus	Mt. Five finger	3m	Mod F	Good	Bushy form. Best untrimmed
Pseudopanax lessonii	Houpara	5m	Mod F	Ex	Coastal
Vitex lucens	Puriri	10m+	Mod F	Good	Coastal. Timber. Birds. Mix with other species

Planting Tips

• Fence the area if stock are likely to damage the trees
• Clear the area to be planted of weeds and grass. Spot spraying with a herbicide is quickest for larger areas.
• Prepare holes for planting - distance apart will depend on species used and on the speed a filled-in effect is required. As a guide, large species such as Totara would be 2 metres or more apart, Pittosporums 1 metre and Corokia 50cm.
• We recommend using a slow release fertiliser when planting. Naturally Native stock "Gro Tabs" which are most suitable for this purpose.
• In very exposed areas a fence high line of shelter cloth on the exposed side of the shelter will enable plants to establish more quickly. Planting of fast growing exotics such as willow or pines can also help in exposed sites. These can be cut out later for firewood.

After Planting Care

• Keep plants clear of competitive weeds in the first year or two.
• If the shelter is to be trimmed it is better to trim each year so a desirable shape is developed.
• An annual side dressing of general fertiliser is beneficial in some cases.