Seven Shade Trees That Naturally Lower Home Temperature and Are Safe to Plant Near Housework
In the quest to keep homes cool during the sweltering summer months, a natural solution has emerged: deciduous trees. These leafy giants, with their ability to provide shade during the day and shed their leaves in the winter, are the perfect allies in the fight against soaring temperatures and skyrocketing cooling bills.
Laura Miller, an expert in horticulture and a resident of Ohio, has firsthand experience with the benefits of deciduous trees. Living in an older home built before the widespread use of central air conditioning, she often took advantage of the free heat by opening the door between the house and the porch on sunny winter days. However, her home had three large maple trees in the front and east yard, which provided shade for most of the day during the hottest part of summer. Unfortunately, these maple trees had issues with their roots, overhead power lines, and one grew too close to an underground natural gas pipe, leading to their removal. The absence of these trees resulted in higher electric bills due to the installation of central air conditioning.
To combat this issue, Miller turned to deciduous trees for a solution. Key recommended species include the European Beech (Fagus sylvatica), maples, oaks, and similar species with broad crowns. The European Beech, in particular, is a large, deciduous tree with a broad spreading crown, growing up to about 30 m tall and 15 m wide. It produces excellent summer shade and drops leaves in autumn, allowing winter sun to hit the enclosed brick front porch.
Other recommended trees include the American Sycamore, known for its massive, cooling shade, and the Coral Bark Japanese maple tree, which features neon green leaves that turn fiery autumnal shades before falling to reveal bold red bark in winter.
Planting such large leafy deciduous trees on the east and south sides helps shade the building during the hottest parts of the day and can reduce solar heat gain significantly, lowering cooling costs. The Department of Energy notes that shading south-facing windows can reduce solar heat gain by up to 65% during summer.
In addition to cooling benefits, these trees also add curb appeal and raise property value. For smaller yards, the Japanese maples are compact and ideal for landscaping near windows and porches, providing moderate shade while upping your curb appeal. A fast-growing dawn redwood, planted a safe distance from the home, can also serve as a replacement for large maple trees.
Finally, there's the Thunderstruck Lavender Blast crepe myrtle, a multi-trunked ornamental tree that provides filtered shade and vibrant summer blooms, thriving in hot humid climates. This tree, along with the Autumn Brilliance serviceberry, a variety planted by George Washington at his estate, Mount Vernon, are perfect examples of the four-season trees that provide shade in summer, edible berries, and bright fall foliage.
In conclusion, deciduous trees are an effective and eco-friendly way to reduce heat absorption and cooling costs, while also adding beauty and value to your home. By choosing the right species and planting them strategically, homeowners can enjoy the benefits of these natural air conditioners all summer long.
Incorporating deciduous trees in her home, Laura Miller opted for the European Beech and various American maples and oaks with their broad crowns to replenish the shade lost by the removed maple trees. These trees, when planted strategically on the east and south sides, help reduce solar heat gain and lower cooling costs.
Adorning smaller yards, compact Japanese maples near windows and porches offer moderate shade that not only improves curb appeal but also raises property value, making them ideal choices for home-and-garden enthusiasts looking to enhance their home lifestyle.
