15 Fast-Growing Trees You Shouldn't Plant Too Close Together In Your Yard

Trees just can't be beat for providing shade in the yard and creating a relaxing and lushly green atmosphere. When you're starting with a bare yard that lacks trees, it can be tempting to ignore the mature sizes of your selections. You can overcrowd young saplings by planting them too close together, potentially causing future problems as cramped trees fight for resources such as sunlight. Fast-growing trees that can suffer from overcrowding include American sycamores, honey locusts, and weeping willows, among many others.

In addition to understanding the ideal spacing, there are a few other details you'll want to consider before choosing the right tree for your yard. When growing the tree species listed below, you'll need to know their mature sizes to make sure you have plenty of space in your yard for them. For successful plantings, you'll also need to know the USDA Hardiness Zones that are compatible with growing these species, as well as their sun needs and preferred soil and moisture conditions. To help you finalize your decision, you'll also discover some perks for each tree in this article.

American sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) reach up to 100 feet tall and wide at maturity, making them trees you shouldn't plant too closely together in your yard. Space saplings more than 60 feet apart. The stately American sycamore is a fast-growing tree that will thrive in damp soil, whether it's clay, loam, or sand. Grow American sycamore if you can provide the soil moisture and full sun exposure it needs, and live in Zones 4 to 9. This tree is native to the eastern and central regions of the U.S., and supports numerous songbirds with its seeds.

Arizona cypress (Hesperocyparis arizonica) is a fast-growing evergreen tree native to the Southwest U.S. These drought-tolerant trees reach up to 60 feet tall and 20 feet wide and can be used to create a privacy screen or windbreak. Plant Arizona cypresses no closer than 7 feet apart if you are growing them as a screen. To better enjoy each plant's silhouette, increase this distance to 15 feet. Hardy in Zones 7 to 11, these low-maintenance trees need full sun and well-draining soils that are either loamy or sandy, and can tolerate dry or moist yards.

Box elder (Acer negundo) is known for its rapid growth and its sugary sap that can be tapped like maple syrup. Adapted to Zones 3 to 9, box elders are widespread U.S. native trees that like clay soil, prefer full sun or part shade, and tolerate wet or occasionally dry yards. Box elders grow up to 50 feet tall and wide at maturity, so don't plant them less than 20 feet apart. Wildlife gardeners take note: Box elder trees are considered a keystone species. They are host plants for well over 200 species of moths and butterflies.

Eastern cottonwoods (Populus deltoides) can grow to between 75 and 100 feet tall and spread up to 60 feet, so they shouldn't be planted too closely together. Give each sapling a buffer of at least 60 feet. Cottonwood trees are beneficial on hot summer days, providing shade to cool off a yard in Zones 3 to 9. As full sun lovers, these fast-growers prefer well-drained clay, loamy, or sandy soils. They thrive in wet conditions and are drought tolerant. This U.S.-native tree is a valuable resource for the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail and beavers.

As fast growers, green giant arborvitae (Thuja standishii x plicata 'Green Giant') is used to create privacy hedges for yards. These trees can grow to 60 feet tall and 18 feet wide, making them well-suited to the job. But to keep these plants healthy, you need to give them enough room. Plant these evergreen trees at least 12 feet apart when using them for a screen. These low-maintenance evergreens provide lush greenery all year long. They can be grown in Zones 5 to 8, where they'll thrive in all soil types and full sun to part shade.

Native to the U.S., honey locusts (Gleditsia triacanthos) are fast-growing trees that can live over a century. Gardeners in Zones 3 to 8 can plant honey locusts in full sun to part shade, where soil is moist and drainage is good. Honey locusts tolerate many soil types and are not bothered by deer or drought. However, plant these trees at least 20 feet apart since they may reach 80 feet tall and wide. And, unless you pick a thornless variety, you can use these prickly, defensive trees as stunning landscape plants to upgrade your home security.

As a member of the legume family, Kentucky coffee trees (Gymnocladus dioicus) can fix nitrogen in your yard and will rapidly increase in size when young if provided with ideal conditions. Native to the eastern and central U.S. and Canada and thriving in Zones 3 to 8 in full sun, Kentucky coffee trees grow well in various soil types but prefer moist conditions. Kentucky coffee trees can attain heights of 80 feet with a spread of up to 55 feet, so don't plant them too close. Grow them at least 30 feet apart.

Gardeners looking to add conifers to their yard might want to consider loblolly pines (Pinus taeda). As one of the fastest growing southern pine trees, loblolly pines thrive in Zones 6 to 9 when provided with moist, acidic soil and full sun. Be sure not to plant other trees too close to them. With a mature size of up to 90 feet tall and 40 feet wide, leave at least 24 feet between loblolly pines to avoid overcrowding.

Northern red oak (Quercus rubra) is an excellent fast-growing shade tree for urban yards since it tolerates air pollution. Native to the eastern half of North America and reaching up to 75 feet tall and just as wide, northern red oaks should be planted at least 60 feet apart. Much appreciated for their beautiful fall color, these trees can be grown in Zones 4 to 8 in either full sun or part shade and in well-drained loamy or sandy soils.

Originating in the north-central and eastern regions of the U.S., pin oak (Quercus palustris) is a fast-grower that shouldn't be grown closer than 60 feet apart in a yard. Prospering in full sun to part shade, pin oaks will make themselves at home in Zones 4 to 8 and in a wide range of soil types, including those that are dry or drain poorly. Butterflies are big fans of this oak tree, which reaches up to 70 feet tall and 60 feet wide at maturity.

A fast-growing tree that will make your yard a pollinator haven, red maple (Acer rubrum) has beautiful fall color in shades of gold, red, and burgundy. Also known as Carolina red maple, this low-maintenance tree prospers in full sun or part shade in Zones 2 to 9. While adaptable to most soil types, red maple grows best in moist conditions. Red maple trees can grow to be 120 feet tall and 50 feet wide, so make sure not to plant these trees too closely together. Install them at least 25 feet apart.

As shade trees that grow quickly, silver maples (Acer saccharinum) grow up to 80 feet tall and 60 feet wide. They are well-adapted to all soil types and moisture conditions and prefer full sun to part shade. Gardeners in Zones 3 to 9 can add silver maples to their planting lists. Loved by songbirds and small mammals, silver maples should be planted 30 feet apart for screens and at least 70 feet between trees in your yard. Expect gorgeous copper and gold fall leaves.

Tulip poplars (Liriodendron tulipifera) are large deciduous trees that produce fascinating flowers. Also known as tulip trees, tulip poplars thrive in Zones 4 to 9 when provided with full sun and moist, well-drained, and loamy soil that's slightly acidic. These fast-growing U.S. native trees bear showy, greenish-yellow flowers with orange markings that draw in welcome pollinators, such as hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. Reaching up to 120 feet tall and 60 feet wide, plant brightly-blooming tulip poplars no closer than 30 feet apart in your yard.

Weeping willow (Salix babylonica) is a fast-growing shade tree that can cool off a hot backyard. These trees prefer full sun to part shade and moist to wet soils, making them the perfect trees to situate next to a pond or lake. Weeping willows may grow to 40 feet tall and wide at maturity. Plant weeping willows 24 to 60 feet apart in your yard to give them enough room and enjoy their beautiful silhouettes. This graceful tree is valuable to bees and butterflies and is hardy only in Zones 6 to 8.

Willow oaks (Quercus phellos) are fast-growing trees that can reach up to 75 feet tall and 50 feet wide. When planning out your landscaping, plant them at least 60 feet apart. This tree loves full sun and part shade and thrives in Zones 5 to 9 when grown in soil that is medium damp to wet. This valuable pollinator-friendly tree species produces acorns and provides a habitat for wildlife. A note for parents (including horse and pet parents): The leaves and seeds are mildly poisonous.