Planting the right type of trees in the right area of your landscape can make your home more efficient during the summer.

They’ll cast shade on your home, reducing the amount of solar heat your home absorbs. As a result, you’ll spend less money on cooling-related energy bills.

If you’re thinking about planting trees in your landscape for extra shade, there are a few things you should know.

Choose Deciduous Trees

For maximum shade, choose deciduous trees for your landscape rather than coniferous trees.

Deciduous trees, of course, shed their leaves annually, whereas coniferous trees produce and shed needles – typically less frequently than their deciduous counterparts.

Upon reading the differences between coniferous and deciduous trees, you may assume that coniferous trees are a better choice since they don’t shed their needles annually.

The reality, however, is that deciduous trees offer greater shade. Deciduous trees produce leaves that create a fuller and more complete canopy than the needles produced by coniferous trees.

Plant Trees on the West Side

You should plant the trees on the west side of your home if you’re hoping to create summertime shade.

While sun angles vary depending on multiple factors – region, time of year, etc. – most homes in the United States will be exposed to the midday summer sun on their west side.

Of course, you can also plant trees on the east side of your home. The east side probably won’t receive as much direct sunlight as the west side, but if you’re trying to make your home more efficient, a little shade can still prove useful.

Plant Shrubs Around Air Conditioner

While trees are ideal for casting shade on your home, you can plant shrubs to cast shade on your air conditioning unit.

Planting just a few shrubs around the air conditioning unit can make it up to 10% more efficient.

The shrubs will cast shade that helps to keep the unit cool during the otherwise hot summer months.

Combined with deciduous trees planted on the west side of your home, this can reduce your home’s cooling expenses during the summer.

Maintain the Trees and Shrubs

Regardless of what type of trees or shrubs you intend to grow for shade, you’ll need to maintain them.

When neglected, they’ll continue to grow while consuming more of your landscape. To keep the size of your trees and shrubs in check, prune them when needed.

The Woodsman Company offers tree planting, tree pruning and shrub trimming, tree removal and stump grinding as well as a tree wellness program.

If we can help with any of your tree care needs give us a call at 512-846-2535 or 512-940-0799 or