Tips for planting shade trees

Beautiful landscaping can add instant curb appeal to a property. But beauty isn’t the only thing that makes idyllic landscaping attractive to homeowners. Some landscaping features, such as shade trees, save homeowners money while adding aesthetic appeal.

The U.S. Department of Energy notes that shading is the most cost-effective way to reduce solar heat gain in a home. Shading also cuts air conditioning costs, which tend to be expensive in areas with warm, humid climates. In fact, the DOE notes that well-planned landscapes can reduce unshaded homes’ air conditioning costs by anywhere from 15 to 50 percent.

Consider using native trees when thinking about which plants to use for shade. Coco Zheng, who owns Clarks Native Trees with her husband, Jim, highlighted several advantages to using trees that are native to the Pacific Northwest region. The trees are stronger and stand up to the windy conditions of the region, easier to maintain and more resistant to disease. She added county and city regulators favor use of native trees and shrubs.

The most popular trees Clarks sells are Western Red Cedar, Douglas Firs, Sitka Spruce, Grand Fir, Western and Mountain hemlocks. For shrubs, she highlighted the Pacific Wax Myrtle.

When planting shade trees, one of the first decisions homeowners will need to make is which type of tree, deciduous or evergreen, they want to plant. Deciduous trees are those that seasonally shed their leaves, while evergreens are trees that keep their leaves throughout the year. Deciduous trees can help keep homes cool in the summer by blocking sun, and those same trees can be beneficial in winter after they shed their leaves by letting the sun in and keeping homes warm. But evergreens also can be beneficial in winter by blocking wind, potentially preventing cold air from making its way into a home through cracks in walls or around windows.

When planting shade trees, techniques vary depending on which type of trees homeowners ultimately choose to plant.

Planting deciduous trees

The DOE says that deciduous trees that are between six and eight feet tall when planted will begin shading the windows of a home within a year of being planted. Depending on the species of the plant and the size of the home, those same deciduous trees may begin shading the roof within five to 10 years of being planted.

When planting deciduous trees, homeowners should keep these tips in mind:

νPlant trees to the south of the home. When planted to the south of the home, deciduous trees can screen between 70 and 90 percent of the summer sun while still allowing residents to feel summer breezes.

νConsider sun angles. Homeowners who want to shade their homes from low afternoon sun angles should plant trees with crowns that are closer to the ground on the west side of their homes.

νCool air before it reaches your home. Shrubs and groundcover plants can be planted to cool air before it reaches a home.

Evergreen trees

Planting evergreens to block wind is known as “windbreaking,” which lowers the wind chill near a home. Wind also can be used to cool a home in summer. But these benefits can only be realized when evergreens are strategically planted.

νLocation, location, location. The DOE advises planting evergreen trees to the north and northwest of the home to stop wind. In addition, to get the most bang for your windbreaking buck, the distance between the home and windbreak should be two to five times the height of the mature tree.

νPlant trees on either side of the house. Planting trees on either side of the house will direct cooling winds toward the home in the summer.

Shade trees can help homeowners reduce their energy bills, making them valuable and attractive additions to any landscape.

Snohomish County has a great list of native plant resources in the area. Go to snohomishcountywa.gov/3937/Native-Plants for more information.

For information about Clarks Native Trees, go to www.clarksnativetrees.com.

For information about energy conservation ideas, go to www.snopud.com/conservation.ashx?p=1100 or www.snopud.com/conservation/econtips.ashx?p=1144.