How to Use Trees in LandscapingCall: (402) 302-1969Every time you open your energy bill, one simple act can help you manage your usage. Plant a tree. Trees have environmental benefits, plus they help to conserve water and may help you cut your heating and cooling costs. Get your tree in the ground this fall to start reaping the rewards.
In a city like Las Vegas, where sunshine is plentiful and rainfall is scarce, shade trees are a valuable addition to all landscapes. They offer relief during our scorching hot summers. They increase the oxygen we breathe and help clean the air and they can add value to your home. What's more, trees can help you manage your utility bills in hot and cold months. Enjoy these benefits when you pick the right tree and plant it in the right place. Trees are long term investments, so it's wise to talk to an expert if you're unsure about which tree choice is right for your landscape. First, start with an assessment of your property and answer a few easy questions. Observe your yard and house throughout the day to determine when they are most exposed to the sun. Do you get morning sun or afternoon sun or both? Are there particular walls or windows that take the brunt of the heat? Is there a room in your house that's always warm no matter how low you set the thermostat? Now think about the winter months as well. Would certain areas benefit from trees that block cold winter winds? Would you want areas that remain unchanged to allow the winter sun to warm your home? These simple observations will help narrow your choices. Next, take note of the size of your yard and features that could interfere with the growth of your tree. Do you have an extended patio or pool. Are there other trees in your landscape or hardscape like pathways and driveways that you need to plan around? Consider your home's foundation too. You won't want to disrupt it with a poorly placed tree. Many newer home plots are shrinking, meaning a smaller tree may be a wiser choice. One of the most common mistakes people make when selecting a tree for their yard is the size of the tree and its position in the yard. Large trees need room to grow both for their canopy but also for the root system. And I often see, unfortunately, people planting large trees too close to block walls or the foundation of the home where they're likely to break that someday. Small trees like well, actually this is a shrub turned into a tree, a mock orange. It can grow right next to a wall without ever getting large enough to threaten that wall. But a larger tree like this beautiful Chinese pusctache needs room to grow so it's much further away from the wall. When you plant a tree, younger is better. Younger trees start off quicker. They grow quicker, they're healthier. You pay less for the tree and less work involved in planting. |
Free Cost Estimate
|
After you thoroughly inspect your yard and space for a tree plan for the irrigation sprinklers cannot adequately water a tree. So drip irrigation is essential. Drip emitters deliver water more slowly and deeply than sprinklers and encourage healthy tree roots. Drip is also more water efficient, helping you to save on your water bill. Mature trees can provide shade to grass and smaller plants, further reducing water needs.
The biggest difference between desert trees and what I like to call them moderate water use trees is in how often you water. Both types should be watered deep. They should be watered wide. In fact, the root system of a tree should extend out to the edge of the canopy and even beyond. Those roots provides structural support, hold the tree up as well as providing water and nutrients. One way to accomplish this is to use under plantings, perennials and succulents and small flowering shrubs. Plants share root space and water resources and if you don't use under plantings, you're still going to need to provide additional emitters based on the eventual size of the tree. Those emitters should radiate out in all four directions. Emitters should be spaced every three, four, five feet. And then the wetting patterns can overlap and the roots develop on through.
The biggest difference between desert trees and what I like to call them moderate water use trees is in how often you water. Both types should be watered deep. They should be watered wide. In fact, the root system of a tree should extend out to the edge of the canopy and even beyond. Those roots provides structural support, hold the tree up as well as providing water and nutrients. One way to accomplish this is to use under plantings, perennials and succulents and small flowering shrubs. Plants share root space and water resources and if you don't use under plantings, you're still going to need to provide additional emitters based on the eventual size of the tree. Those emitters should radiate out in all four directions. Emitters should be spaced every three, four, five feet. And then the wetting patterns can overlap and the roots develop on through.
The next step is the fun part, choosing a shade tree that will bring years of joy to your home and family. No matter what type of tree purchase you want to ensure it's tough and adaptable. It should be water efficient and low maintenance and grow quickly enough so you receive shade when the weather begins to warm. Depending on the size of your yard and if you like flowering blooms, you might consider planting a smaller variety like Chase Tree Desert Willow or sweet acacia. These trees grow up to twenty five feet tall with a canopy that stretches twenty five to thirty feet wide. One each is tough and resilient. Homeowners with a little more room to cover may want to plant a tree with a great sprawling, umbrella shaped canopy. The fruitless olive, African sumac and several varieties of pallaverdes are very well adapted. Drought tolerant choices and can develop a canopy 30 feet wide or more when fully grown. You'll also want to choose wisely between a deciduous or evergreen tree. Evergreens hold onto their leaves throughout winter and give your landscape a green lush look when other plants are dormant. Evergreens can be a good choice on the north and northwest sides of your home to help block cold winter winds. But if you want to welcome the warming winter sun, consider deciduous trees on south and west facing exposures. Deciduous trees provide shade during the hottest months, but allow more sunlight in when they lose their leaves in cold months. That can help reduce summer cooling and winter heating costs.
Our urban and suburban communities, by their very nature, are heat islands. It's the asphalt and the concrete and dark rooftops that absorb heat all day long. And then as the sun sets, that heat is released back into the air. In fact, our community is significantly hotter now, especially at night because of that heat island effect. Trees can make a huge difference in mitigating the heat island effect both for the community as a whole, but right in your own backyard, especially on the west side of the house. Planting of shade trees will reduce the amount of sun that's hitting the house that's heating it up and causing you to run your air conditioner in the summer and by shade tree you really should consider the use of deciduous trees. They drop their leaves in the winter, letting the sun back through to warm the house when you want it.
The last step to foster a strong and healthy tree is to plant it firmly in the ground. If you've chosen a desert tree for your landscape, you won't need to amend the soil. But in all cases, make sure you remove the transport stake after you get home from the nursery. The trunk of a healthy, well-developed tree should be strong enough to hold itself upright, and any additional stakes, if needed, should be placed far outward and allow the tree to move in the wind so it develops properly. Water deeply and infrequently, fertilize and keep a close eye on your tree. Routinely check for pests, disease and damage from wind.
In addition to all that, consider the type of mulch that you're going to use. While desert trees and plants do fine in a rock mulch moderate water use. Plants, trees and fruit trees will perform much better with the use of an organic mulch, in particular wood chips. What wood chips do is they break down over time. When they do, they add nutrients directly to the soil, but they also increase soil fertility, the ability of the soil to hold air, water and nutrients. And you actually end up with a rich black soil. That's really good growing environment for these types of trees.
The positive impact of trees reaches beyond the four corners of your yard. Globally, trees are essential for the environment. They improve air quality by absorbing odors and polluting gases and provide life sustaining oxygen. They also offer shelter and food to wildlife, just as they protect smaller plants by creating a gentler microclimate. They even protect our soil from erosion caused by desert winds and flooding.
Trees provide so many benefits to our landscapes and our lives. There's the shade, of course, but there's also the beauty in their structure in the form and the foliage. Some trees have flower shows and the desert trees especially have exceptional, long lasting flower shows. They bring in birds, hummingbirds and butterflies. There's fragrance. Some trees bring in the element of sound when a breeze passes through or the movement of the leaves and the fronds. And then there's the fruit trees. And fruit trees can do really well here. It's hard to imagine a world without trees. You don't have to be a poet or a dreamer to appreciate the trees contribute to a more sustainable planet. And by planting one today, you'll ensure you stay energy and water smart, eginning right at home.