The Value of Trees in the Home Landscape

I happen to love landscape trees. They provide a sense of scale in the landscape. They offer shade on a hot summer day. Trees also can provide beautiful flowers, pretty leaves and great fall color. The vibrancy of October Glory or Red Sunset Red Maples is breathtaking at this time of year.

However, there are many other reasons to include trees in your landscape. Ornamental, evergreen and shade trees all enhance the environment and provide cost savings in various ways.

According to the American Public Power Association, air conditioning costs can be reduced by 50% by the use of trees. This is due to trees shading the windows and walls of a home. Large shrubs can also provide shade, but not to the extent that landscape trees do.

The Environmental Protection Agency determined that trees shading homes can help cool attics tremendously. Actually attic temperatures can be reduced as much as 40 degrees. Anyone who has been in a hot attic can appreciate this fact.

While trees can offer shade in the hot months, they also allow the sun in during the winter, due to the loss of their leaves at this time. So not only do they cool the home, but also provide warmth.

Evergreen trees, if placed correctly, can be used as windbreaks, protecting homes and reducing heat loss. Less fuel for heat is then needed. Homes sheltered by evergreens are warmer in the winter months than those that are not. Typically, evergreen trees should be placed so as to block the winter northwest winds. Evergreen trees are also a way to provide noise reduction on your property. By utilizing them as a screen along a noisy street, they serve as a noise buffer.

Trees also help with both water quality and drainage issues. Tree roots absorbs undesirable elements from leaching into our water supplies. They also absorb water runoff on properties. Landscape trees can also prevent soil erosion on slopes. In addition, flooding is often reduced.

And if these weren't enough reason to use trees in the home landscape, consider the fact that they also serve as a shelter for wildlife, particularly birds.

Susan Schlenger is a Landscape Designer with a degree in Landscape Architecture. You can read more about landscaping with trees at http://www.landscape-design-advice.com/landscape-trees.html