PLAN BEFORE YOU PLANT
Planning your landscape is an important part of the project.
The best way to get a sense of what your optimal landscape will look like is to sketch a to-scale drawing of your home and surrounding property. Include any structures, like sheds, fences and decks, as well as flower beds, trees, play areas, walkways, overhead utility lines, and slopes in the ground. Note where sunlight and wind - in both summer and winter - hit your house and yard. This will help you determine which walls and windows need protection and which plants will survive the location.
When picking your trees and flowers, be sure to read the planting instructions carefully. Certain types of trees do not do well in windy locations, just as many types of flowers cannot handle direct sunlight or excessive moisture. Once you've researched and picked your plants add them to the sketch to get an idea of your end result.
There are numerous reasons why a homeowner should invest in trees, one of them being the environmental benefits. Widespread tree planting improves air quality by helping trap pollutants, pollen, and dust, while producing oxygen. Trees also improve the quality of soil by feeding it with organic matter, and tree roots increase soil permeability. Because the roots reach far into the ground, trees require little or no watering once the seedling is established.
PLACEMENT OF TREES & SHRUBS
But how can you use trees to help save with your energy costs? This depends on the kind of trees you choose and where you plant them. The east, west, and south sides of your home receive the most sun day-to-day. A couple of tall-standing deciduous trees planted 15 to 20 feet from these walls will reduce the amount of solar heat passing through windows, beating down on your roof, and turning your home into a two-story oven. Deciduous trees with high-spreading, leafy branches should be planted to the south of your home to produce maximum shade over your roof. Trees with lower-reaching branches will work well along the west-facing wall where sunlight hits at a lower angle in the afternoon.
Vines and climbing plants like Boston Ivy and Clematis offer the same benefits. This shade protection could reduce air conditioning costs anywhere from 10% to 50% per year*. You can also improve the efficiency of your air conditioner by shading the outside unit. Just be sure to keep the air intake free of leaves, branches, and debris - and plant shrubs at least three feet away from the compressor to maintain good airflow. Because deciduous trees lose their leaves in the fall, they will still allow winter sunlight into your house.
In addition to your house itself, shading hard, dark surfaces - such as your driveway, sidewalk and patio - will help keep your surrounding outdoor spaces cool. Trees planted on boulevards reflect heat from paved streets while improving the curb appeal of your home.
The list below names some popular deciduous trees that tolerate the Southern Ontario climate*.
Tall-Standing Deciduous Trees
Ash
Birch
Elm
Gingko
Maple
Oak
Poplar
Lower-Reaching Deciduous Trees
Apple
Cherry
Hydrangea
Lilac
Magnolia
Willow
Shielding your home from harsh winter winds can cut your heating costs 10% to 50% per year*. A row of evergreen trees planted along your north wall - or the wall that takes the brunt of cold wind - makes an excellent, natural windbreak. Avoid planting taller evergreens on the south or west side of your home where they can block winter sunlight.
Shrubs and bushes planted around the perimeter of your home, one foot away from your walls, will act as an insulator in both summer and winter. Planted along the windiest side of your home, shrubs can also help trap snow and reduce drifting.
Below are lists of evergreen trees and shrubs that thrive in our local climate*.
Evergreen Trees
Cedar
Douglas Fir
Pine
Spruce
Evergreen Shrubs
Cedar
Euonymus
Holly
Juniper
Yew
Trees are a long-term investment and the economic benefits may not be reaped overnight. A six- to eight-foot tree will begin casting cool shade over your windows the first year. After five years, it will begin to shade your roof. Remember not to plant tall-growing trees near utility lines. It can be extremely dangerous if the branches become entwined with the wires.
* Source: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Extension Notes - Rural Proportions