Shade Trees: A Wealth of Landscaping Benefits

Shade trees are the backbone of most landscapes. The intended use for most customers creates a market demand for, deciduous trees that are usually limbed up from 36 to 60 inches. Relatively few shade trees are less than 30 feet tall. They are wonderful near a patio, terrace, deck, pool or anywhere to provide relief from the sun. The benefit of energy saving combined with naturally enhancing esthetics make these a tremendously popular landscaping article.

Landscape
Shade trees are the basic element for any landscape plan. They are versatile parts of our landscapes. The fact that these trees can cool temperatures in the surrounding landscape and cool off houses during the heat of the summer is well known. The benefits of providing wind breaks and facilitating birds for a natural insect deterrent are often overlooked. Shade trees have been used through the ages to shade landscapes, homes, buildings, or as shelter and food for wildlife.

Energy
Shade trees are effective in reducing the energy used in cooling homes. Many homeowners and landscapers are using these trees to show thier support for renewable energy and a fun way to provide incentives to learn more about home-scale solar, wind and geothermal systems as well as other green building options. Although it takes time, energy and money to buy and plant a tree, prune and water it, and dispose of leaves, research shows that the annual benefits outweigh the costs by about $65 each year for every single tree. Besides the obvious savings in energy costs, this energy conservation translates directly to less carbon dioxide produced at the generating plant that provides the energy to cool your home. In addition to the quantifiable benefits, half a million trees are planted to reduce energy costs and savings on storm water drainage construction, utilities say tree planting programs have been a public relations bonanza.

Conclusion
Since the most beneficial locations for shade trees are close to the east and west sides of buildings, the best trees will be strong, resisting disease and pests and damage from storms. Leaves of shade trees are subject to sun burning, especially if hot sunny days follow a prolonged period of cloudy weather in spring. Dead and defective branches from these trees are a major source of fuel for plantation laborers. Shade trees are a very important part of our rural and urban landscape. They give us shade and privacy, save energy, serve as windbreaks and soften the harsh lines of buildings.