Finding energy efficient ways to cool a home is important to most homeowners.  One way, that may not immediately spring to mind, is with landscape shading.  With well thought out placement of trees and shrubs etc. you can provide much needed shade to areas of the home that are heated by the hot summer sun.  Landscape shading is known to lower indoor temperatures by as much as 9 degrees which can reduce the amount of stress placed on air conditioners.  Here are a few points to consider with landscape shading:

Plan your landscape very carefully so that you know the right place to plant your trees in order for them to supply the right amount of shade to the home at the time of day its most needed.  Its also important to select the right type of trees.  If you want a lot of shade then this will require a denser tree.  Another thing to consider if whether you want to benefit from the suns heat in the winter, if you do, then choose deciduous trees which lose their leaves during winter, allowing the sun to heat the home, but provide full shade in the summer to cool the home.

As we know, trees can take a long time to reach their full height so, if you want to achieve quicker results, vines are a good option.  When grown to wrap around a trellis or fencing they can, not only provide a good amount of shade, but allow for much needed breeze to flow through.  Shrubs can also be a good option, especially for shading areas like pathways and driveways. 

Yes, careful planning of your outdoor landscape can contribute to home energy savings in the long run.  Just make sure you check whether planting extra trees on your property will not adversely affect moisture levels which can create other problems. 

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