Landscaping, trees, shrubs and climate

The trees and shrubs we use when landscaping, or their role and placement, depends largely on climate.

Five climate zones with different landscape principles

It's common to consider five climate zones in USA - Cold, Cool, Temperate, Hot and Dry, Hot and Humid -, each involving different landscaping principles. The map below, illustrates it. For a more detailed and precise map, consider USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. It allows the identification of very specific regions.

Landscaping vary significantly for each climate zone, and you should take it into account.

Outside USA

With some small adaptations, you can adopt the landscape principles indicated below to your own climate zone, wherever you live. Just choose the climate zone that corresponds most closely to your own climate.

Microclimates

Be aware of microclimate implications. Elevations, north or south-facing sites, winds, breezes or shades may make your regional climate and that of your lot, significantly different from that of the climate zone to which you theoretically belong. Your particular microclimate may have the characteristics of a region some hundred kilometers north or south.

Cold Climate Landscaping

In cold climate regions summers are cool and winters particularly severe. Cooling needs aren't significant. Landscaping efforts should be directed at sheltering the home from cold winds and cold weather.

Design your surroundings to protect the windward side(s) of your home. Plant dense windbreaks, if possible, using conifers and bushes. Do not plant trees or shrubs at the sunny side and sun-facing windows of your home.

Cool Climate Landscaping

Typically, in cool climate zones, summers are warm and winters cold. Cooling needs are limited. Landscaping efforts should be directed at sheltering the home from cold winter, but some shade are also desirable in the sunny side of the building, in summer.

Similarly to what happens in colder climates, design your surroundings to protect the windward side(s) of your home from cold winter winds. Plant dense windbreaks, if possible, using conifers and bushes.

Plant deciduous trees in the west-facing windows and in the sunny side of your home. Be careful not to block the sun-facing windows and walls of your home in winter. Sun should reach them in that season, and deciduous trees should allow that.

Temperate Climate Landscaping

In temperate climates summers are typically hot and winters are relatively cold. Cooling and heating needs are moderate, but significant. Landscaping efforts should be directed to get both shade in summer and wind sheltering in winter.

Design your surroundings to protect the windward side(s) of your home from colder winter winds. These windbreaks shouldn't be located to close to your home, to allow air circulation in mid-seasons and summer.

Plant deciduous trees in the west-facing windows and in the sunny side of your home. Trees shouldn't block the sun in winter. Choose carefully the shape and height of the trees, and their location. They should be high enough to shade your roof and windows in summer and hot weather periods, and just in those periods. Their trunks and shapes shouldn't prevent air circulation at ground-level.

Hot and Arid Climate landscaping

Typically, in hot arid climates, air is dry, temperatures oscillate a lot, and there are long seasons of hot weather and cool nights. Cooling needs are high, and heating needs are sporadic. Landscaping efforts should be directed to get wind breezes and protection from the sun.

Design your surroundings to get natural breezes. Plant trees in the west-facing windows and in the sunny side of your home. Pay attention to the shape and the height of the trees, and their location. Choose tall trees to get both roof shading and window shading. They shouldn't prevent air circulation at ground-level.

Hot and Humid Climate Landscaping

In these climate zones, air is humid and temperatures rather constant and high, like humidity. Cooling needs are high, and heating needs sporadic. Allowing air circulation is crucial. Landscaping efforts should be directed to get cooling breezes, and to minimize humidity close to the home.

Design your surroundings to get natural breezes. Trees should be tall and with spreading canopies, but without lower trunks. The goal of that shape is to favor air movement (breezes). For the same reason, avoid hedges and low shrubs too close to the home.