The landscaping strategy that you employ is largely governed by the climatic conditions of the area in which you are living. Planting trees around the home will help in reducing cooling costs during the summer. As the new plants grow they will also be able to provide some shade, helping to reduce the cooling costs further. In five to ten years, the tree height would have grown to reach that of the roof of a one-storey house. Trees should be placed so that ample amount of shade can fall on the roof, walls and windows of the house. Deciduous trees that loose their leaves in winter are an ideal choice as they cool houses in summer and ensure that the home stays warm during the winter.
Creating dead air space with your landscaping:
Planting a number of shrubs around the perimeter of the house will help in creating dead air space. This acts as a buffer which will insulate your house in both summer and winter. There should be at least one foot of space between the full grown plants and the perimeter wall of your house.
Using your landscape to boost the performance of your air conditioner:
Planting a flowering tree or shrub close to an external air-conditioner unit can help in increasing the efficiency and life span of the air-conditioner. The positioning of the plant should ensure that its shade manages to fall on the unit, yet the plant should not be close enough to affect the airflow around the unit, blocking the air intakes.
Reducing radiant heat with your landscape:
If the building architecture uses a lot of glass windows and patios, shrubs can be used to provide shade and minimize the radiant heat that is transmitted through the glass. Plant varieties will have to grow up to a height of six to eight feet. This will ensure that the plant’s foliage prevents the rays of the afternoon sun falling through glass.
Protecting your house from the harsh winter:
Planting dense low-lying trees and shrubs facing the north and northeastern parts of your house will help protect it from winter chills. Evergreen shrubs are ideal for this purpose. They will act as a living barrier around the house.
