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Strategies
involving trees, shrubs and vines to shade and cooling a house
In cold and moderate-temperate climates, do not use too much
trees to gain shade. Two or three large deciduous
trees with well-developed crowns, well located relatively to the
house, may suffice.
East and
west faces of the house
The east and west faces of the house may be shielded by
vegetation that can be deciduous or evergreen.
North and
south faces of the house
In some cases
(dependent of the climate particularities) it may be preferable
evergreens to provide summer shade and winter wind protection.
In other cases, in temperate and cold climates, whenever winter
wind protection isn't relevant and solar gains are important,
use deciduous trees.
Height and Location of the trees
and shrubs
Trees should be planted close to
the home, but not too close. Their location should consider their crown shape and their
mature height, as well as the path of the sun or the height of
the roof.
For maximum efficiency trees and windbreaks should be located at
the right distance from your home: two to five times the height of the
adult trees or shrubs.
See also:
House Shading, Trees and
Shrubs
Mixing fast and slow-growing plants
In an initial phase, you may mix fast-growing trees and
slower growing ones. As the slower-growing trees mature, you can
remove the others.
Choosing Trees and Shrubs
Pay attention to the
charactheristics of the plants, before buying and planting
them. Their mature size is important, as it is their density,
or their shape.
The evergreen
or deciduous nature of a tree is also crucial:
- to get continuous shade and block heavy winds,
use dense evergreen plants
- in cold climate regions without shading
requirements and overheat problems, avoid plants too close to
your home.
- in many places and climates deciduous trees are extremely
useful: they can block solar heating in the summer, without
obstructing it in winter.
Fast or slow-growing plants?
Fast-growing trees - as maples, burr oaks or river birches - have
the advantage of rapidly providing the desired effects. That is
important, and in many cases a reason to choose a fast-growing
specie.
But do not forget
that slow-growing trees and shrub also present huge advantages: they are
more resistant, less prone to breakage and live longer.
Cares with
trees
In winter, prune
the lower trunks to maximize solar heating on the walls
and roof.
To avoid damages in your house, choose tree species not
susceptible to breakage, and do not forget to remove diseased and damaged trees or limbs.
If humidity is a
problem, avoid plants near the
house's walls. In this case, wind ventilation of the walls is
absolutely necessary to keep the home and soil dryer.
For more information, see:
House Shading, Trees and
Shrubs
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