If they grow fast and tall, they also die the same way...and often weak wood->storm damage, etc.

are there some trees that naturally fast growers and still grow strong? if not, then i am not intersted in trees growing and soon falling.

thanks for the help

@cecily 7A

thanks for the ideas

Green Giant arborvitae. The grow fast, are very durable/hardy, show some shade tolerance and are deer resistant.

First, always, always, always start with where in the world you are. Trees that grow well in zone 7 Virginia may not do well in zone 7 New Mexico.

Second, I suspect you are nowhere near me, since being worried about woodland trees needing to be actively replaced is not an idea I can get my head around. Yes, eventually individual trees die, but if they are far enough away from structures that you don't care about exactly how, they can hang out there for several centuries.

I thought deer eat arborvitae.

They are very fond of American arborvitae, Thuja occidentalis. Green Giants are are a hybrid of giant arborvitae, Thuja plicata, and an Asian species, T. standishii, and have strong deer resistance due to the high concentration of tannins and terpenes from the plicata parentage. They just don't taste good :-)

I'd still provide some initial protection.......hungry deer will sample anything new.

Thank you, gardengal. The actual Green Giants get too large for my sites as too near power lines, but perhaps there is a (much) smaller hybrid . Also I have an eye on the junipers such as Blue Point because we have dry summers. I will read more about it now that you have given these details- not trying to hijack the OP.

The single native Thuja plicata on my current property is bare of foliage from deer head height level to the ground. And intentional plantings of much younger examples of same on a couple other lots on my street are nibbled down to twigs below the 2-3 ft. level - you just never know for sure what deer will do in each situation unless you fence them out. For smaller than 'Green Giant' yet generally similar you will have to choose one of the many T. occidentalis cultivars and fence them as these are a favorite browse during winter.

Any reason why large, evergreen viburnums wouldn't work? Viburnums are not very appealing to deer.

I don’t know where you are, but Hemlocks would fit the bill if you have a decent amount of rain. You can easily treat them to prevent the Adelgids.

I second green giant. They grow well for me in Zone 7a. They prefer full sun but do OK in shade. And my local deer don't eat them. But they do like to rub their antlers on them. And can easily kill a central leader. Might be a good idea to cage them up to say 3' for the first few years.

If this is a wooded area, you can go native.

American Holly.

Since you are 7A, I presume Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus Virginiana) is native...also good.

Since you say the old canopy is dying out, add some native oaks, red maples, and maybe some dogwood for understory.