Trees and Shrubs.

Lawns can require a staggering amount of upkeep, but to get the perfect turf we’ve come to expect, it takes a lot of lawnmower fuel, fertilizer, lime and time. Lawns also need watering, thatching, and aerating. Depending on how far you want to take it, there are ways’ to reduce a lawn's demands or, possibly replace the lawn altogether. Planting trees and shrubs is definitely a way to make a house more comfortable in the summer and winter.

While it may be easier to build on a clear cut site, it’s hard to find anything that multitasks better than a tree. Trees can block cold winter winds and the hot summer sun, all while making the oxygen we need to breathe. It may be easier to build on a cleared job site than a wooded one. Before the chainsaw is cued up, consider the long term benefits of standing trees. Trees take a long time to reach maturity and when they become large enough to grace a site, they will also be expensive to replace. Trees block the wind and provide shade. Take time to think about how trees or their absence will affect the house when preparing a site for construction and make decisions accordingly. On a hot day it is far more comfortable to rest under the shade of a tree than in the glare of the sun. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that plantings can reduce cooling costs by 25 percent. Trees and shrubs make effective windbreaks when they’re planted (or left standing) some distance from the house, lifting wind up and over buildings. The result can be lower energy consumption and greater comfort. Windbreaks can also control drifting snow and create habitats for birds and animals.