While hedgerows are used generally to enhance landscapes and boost habitats for wildlife, windbreaks, or shelterbelts, are more specifically used for protecting areas of land from exposure to undesirable levels of wind. They are created by planting a single or multiple rows of trees or larger shrubs in a linear pattern, upwind of the area being protected. Renovating a windbreak can involve widening an established row of vegetation and partially replanting or replacing the trees or shrubs to restore or extend it. They can be employed on any kind of land that would benefit from wind protection and has sufficient space and soil strength to support linear planting.
Windbreaks are a long-term strategy: their effectiveness depends on the height of the plants used at their maturity, which means they could require several years to become fully functional. Longer periods of time may also be required to fully renovate a windbreak in certain conditions.
Windbreaks protect soil from erosion by wind, and even shield plants, livestock, and buildings from damage by severe wind elements. They help control weather elements while improving air quality by intercepting and breaking up airborne chemicals and odors. The trees or shrubs employed create enhanced cover, nesting, and food resources for local wildlife including birds and helpful pollinators. Windbreaks can even act as visual screens and dividing lines for property, creating tangible delineations between plots and fields.
Learn more about establishing and renovating windbreaks on the CA Field Office Technical Guide website.
The following sections highlight some of the most applicable and effective methods for the Sacramento region and provide access to additional sources to learn more.
