Many homeowners are continuously looking for ways to save on home heating and cooling costs but, one area of their property they may not think of regarding this is landscaping. How can the way you design your landscape help with energy costs? By the strategic planting of trees and shrubs so that they provide shade to the home, reducing the amount of heat that enters from the hot sun. This is known as landscape shading and has been known to reduce indoor temperatures by as much as 9 degrees. So, what are some of the keys to successful landscape shading?
The first step is to design your landscape very carefully. Its important to figure out where the trees should be planted so that they will provide the right amount of shade at the time of day its most needed. Another key to success is knowing which trees to plant. If you need a lot of shade on the home then you will need a denser tree. You will also need to decide if you want the home to benefit from the suns heat in the winter, in such a case, you should plant deciduous trees whose leaves provide the full amount of shade during summer but lose their leaves in the winter, allowing the sunlight to reach the house.
If you are looking for more rapid results then vines are a good option. You can plant them so that they wrap around fencing or lattice which will, not only provide shade but, allow for any breeze to flow through. You may also want to consider planting shrubs to shade pathways or driveways.
As we can see, with careful planning, landscape shading could save you money on energy costs in the long run. Before you make any decisions to buy extra trees etc. check that they will not adversely affect moisture levels around your property which may cause other issues.
