Gary Moll of the American Forest Association discusses the benefits of trees in the landscape. Trees can increase real-estate values by 5 percent to 7 percent, but they also enhance the community by cleaning the air and water. Trees reduce the temperature in urban environments by casting shade and creating humidity. They also help break the flow of storm-water runoff. Planted in the right location, trees can substantially reduce a homeowner's cooling bill by shading the house. The ideal location for a shade tree is the west side of your property, far enough from the house so the tree can reach full size unimpeded. When the sun is at its hottest point, a large tree will shade the west wall and some of the roof. If you also paint your house white, you could save a lot of money on your cooling bill. In northern climates, you may want trees to help block winter winds. Plant evergreens in groups along the north and west sides of the house to block or divert the wind. This should help reduce your heating bill. In order to choose the correct tree for your location, study your planting site. Which direction do the prevailing winds blow, what are the environmental conditions, and what do you need the tree to do? If energy conservation is your prime concern, plant deciduous trees on the east and west side of the house. Deciduous trees drop their leaves in the winter, allowing some winter sun to heat the building, but provide leafy shade in the heat of the summer. Also consider the placement of your air-conditioning unit. Provide some shade for it, and cooling costs will drop further. Leave the south-facing side of the house open to receive the full benefit of the weak winter sun. Evergreen trees can be used to block cold winter winds on the northwest side of the house. If you want to plant relatively close to the house, consider slow-growing varieties. Fast-growing trees tend to be brittle and may lose branches. Walk around your neighborhood to see what kinds of mature trees are thriving nearby. When selecting young trees from a nursery, consider the size of the trunk. The trunk should be the correct size for the container, which indicates that the plant hasn't been grown too long in the same container. Look for 1" of trunk per 12" of container. Select trees with straight, single trunks, with no cracks or injuries. Look for open branch patterns with no crossing limbs and healthy foliage with no sign of insect damage.
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