Summer heat may have you seeking comfort from a nearby shade tree. You immediately experience as much as a 15 to 20 degree drop in temperature and enjoy the relief it provides.
Bring this shady relief home by looking for ways to include trees in your landscape in the coming weeks. First, monitor patterns of sun and shade on and around your home throughout the day and throughout the year as the angle and position of the sun changes. Observe the effect your home, neighboring homes, sheds and existing plantings have on the sunlight reaching your landscape.
Consider providing welcome shade where needed during the hottest hours of the day and weeks of the year. Look for opportunities to plant trees where you can make a difference in your comfort and money spent cooling your home.
Plant trees, if space allows, near those areas where you spend time outdoors. Shading patios and decks makes them more inviting on a hot summer day. Deciduous trees that drop their leaves in winter do double duty – providing needed shade in summer and allowing you to soak up some welcome sunshine during the cooler months of the year as well.
Maximize the cooling benefits to your home by planting trees on the east and west side of your house. Shading the roof, walls and windows greatly reduces heat gain and energy needed to cool your home. Since about 75% of the heat gain in a building comes through the windows, shading them can greatly increase your comfort and reduce money spent cooling your home.
Don’t overlook paved areas near your home that greatly affect the air temperature. Shading paved drives and walks reduces heat absorbed that is released back into the surrounding air. Lowering the temperature of the space around your home helps lower the indoor temperature.
Shading an air conditioner can increase its efficiency by as much as 10%, reducing energy use and saving you money. If space is limited, consider planting a shade-producing shrub or vine trained on a trellis. Be sure to provide space around the unit for needed airflow.
Avoid underground and overhead utilities when planting trees. Tall trees that eventually grow into the wires or structures may interfere with utilities and power transmission, creating a real hazard. Improper placement results in pruning that ruins their beauty or requires removal, eliminating any benefit they provided. Always call 811 as you plan new plantings and at least three business days before placing the first shovel in the ground. It can help reduce the risk of injury and avoid the inconvenience that can happen when you damage an underground utility.
Consult your local university extension service and energy company for plant selection and placement recommendations for your area. Those living in wildfire prone areas need to consider fire-safe landscaping practices, too.
No room to plant trees on your property? Consider joining the local tree board or other tree planting group. Adding trees to your community can help you and your neighbors create a healthier, cooler environment that everyone can enjoy.
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including “The Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, Second Edition” and “Small Space Gardening.” She hosts “The Great Courses’” “How to Grow Anything” instant video and DVD series and the nationally-syndicated “Melinda’s Garden Moment” TV and radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. For more, visit https://www.melindamyers.com/
