[Cob] windbreak

[Quinn]

Ziggy,

Two things to consider when planting next to a wall are the roots and  
the crown of whatever you're planting.  The crown, of course, is the  
diameter of whatever it is and how large it will become which might  
affect your walls with rubbing (wind) or broken branches (really big  
wind, or ice).

The other consideration is roots.  Do not plant anything which will,  
in time, have large enough roots (some have mentioned chestnut trees,  
etc) that they will push up and crack your walls.  People make this  
mistake all the time.

It's amazing how far some things have to be planted from a structure  
to prevent damage down the road and amazing how short-sighted many  
people are when choosing plants/ planting.

Another things to consider is do you want to replant it every year or  
just once?  Some things might do well but need to be continually  
replanted.

There are some species of poplar (can't think of the name right now)  
which grow in a very narrow diameter, and very quickly straight up,  
and are extremely popular as windbreaks.  They do grow in MO. (I'm in  
AR)  Still~ they are trees with tree-roots.  Don't plant them too close.

Good luck.

Quinn

No Yoga exercise, no hour of meditation will leave you emptier of bad  
thoughts than this homely ceremony of making bread.  ~ M.F.K. Fisher