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