Why You Should Plant Trees Around Your Residence
It is accepted by many that atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and other greenhouse gases have increased substantially since pre-industrial times. These concentrations are expected to continue their steep rate of increase if current emission patterns continue. The prime human source of greenhouse gas emissions is burning fossil fuels. Have you ever wondered what you can do about global warming? Your landscaping can cut heating and cooling costs. If each person planted just a few extra plants or trees that help reduce carbon emissions, the worldwide total would be massive. The best goal is to control the sun and wind. The first line of defense for saving energy is protection from the winter winds by the use of landscaping. Research has shown that a properly designed screen or buffer can reduce the heating cost of a typical residence by as much as 30 percent. Selecting trees and plants is important. An examples of a plants that are known for its screening capabilities are the Arborvitae and Viburnums. Also, atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases can be reduced by withdrawing carbon from the atmosphere and sequestering it in soils and biomass.
How Arborvitae can be used to reduce wind speeds:
There are studies that show that wind speeds around homes can be reduced by as much as 90%. The best design for windbreaks depends on the use and exact location of the site. However, in most of Pennsylvania. the prevailing winds are from the northeast, thus, the maximum protection should be concentrated in the north east. A single row of conifers with staggered spacings is the best for protection from both wind and blowing snow. The wind is deflected up and over the screen, creating a well protected zone. The area of maximum protection can extend outward several times the height of the trees. If space is at a premium, fewer plants will be helpful, but the use of conifers and other densely branched species is essential for maximum winter protection.arborvitae make an excellent choice for providing winter protection. Arborvitae are commonly used evergreens useful in urban areas where low maintenance and durability is needed. Many cultivars with forms such as being globed in shape, columnar, or narrow pyramidal, tend to be near buildings, doors, and walkways. Other forms which are larger are used for screens and buffers that are planted in rows. The form of arborvitae is small, medium, or large depending on the cultivar. Some reach 50', others only 3'. Even small Arborvitae can help breakup the wind and drifting snows of winter. Most prefer full sun to partial sun. Planting in dense shade conditions should be avoided. A moist, well drained, loamy soil in full sunlight are ideal conditions for growing healthy arborvitae. These plants will tolerate rocky, clay, urban conditions of heat drought and pollution.
The most important pest we have for arborvitae is bagworms which must be controlled to prevent complete defoliation. Some cultivars have multiple leaders which also prove to be a detraction for the plant. Pruning out multiple leaders in some cultivars is a simple remedy. The ease in planting and maintaining this plant make it an ideal choice for planting around the house. Plant arborvitae with wind direction in mind. Since south winds are generally warmer than northeast winds, it is considered sufficient to have moderate protection on the east and desirable to leave the south open or restricted to rows of shrubs and deciduous trees. More openness to the south allows solar gain in the winter and for summer ventilation house. The economic incentive of reduced heating costs is additional to known benefits of reduced snow clearing. While most homes have at least some naturally treed areas or planted screens protecting their yard, the full potential benefit from tree planting is far from being realized. Energy conservation is a growing concern. Current studies confirm what fuel oil dealers have known all along, homes with screens and buffers use considerably less fuel. The time to begin planning for an energy conscious future is now. <h2>
The hardiness zone for the green giant arborvitae is from zones 5 to 8. It is an evergreen with rapid growth rates that in ideal conditions can be up to 3 feet per year. Site requirements for the green giant is sun to partial shade, moist well drained soil but does well in clay, and needs protection from wind . Its texture is fine with its form conical being narrow to broadly pyramidal, reaching from 50 to 80' in height to 15 to 20 feet in width. The leaf is rich, green, with graceful foliage. It keeps its foliage color in the winter. The green giants flowers/fruit are .5" erect female cones. The green giant has strong wood, casts dense shade, and has cinnamon red bark when young. This arborvitae does not tolerate salt spray. This arborvitae should outlive even your children and provide years of shelter for you buildings.
Another plant that can help buffer winter winds is the Viburnum. Viburnums are plants with year round interest. Some Viburnums have white to pink flowers in the spring. Some are fragrant. They have large, attractive and often textured leaves. Some viburnums have fragrant flowers that are produced in snowball like clusters in the spring. The flower clusters can be of pink buds, which develop into white flowers. Some fruits are red and turn black with age while others are orange and some blue. Leaves are glossy, dark green and turn a burgundy color in the fall. Midsummer berries are an important food source for birds. Viburnums are a must for the avid birder. Viburnums can have colorful red to purple leaves. Some viburnums can become medium-size trees, especially if they are pruned. Viburnums are specimen plants or can be anchors in mixed borders and hedges and screens. You won't find a better group of shrubs for hedges or for massing in groups, since viburnums are delightful in every season and landscape. Some viburnums, such as Prague viburnum, are evergreen and have fragrant flowers. Others, such as leatherleaf viburnum, are semi-evergreen in colder climates, losing their leaves when temperatures dip below 10 degrees. We like Viburnums because of their adaptability and durability. While they would prefer full sun and moderately watered, well-drained rich soils, they grow very well in part shade in alkaline, clay soils. Diseases and pests are not common for viburnums. We have more trouble from my kids running over them with brush hogs. They claim they were testing their durability. Yet all the viburnums they chopped to the ground survived. In fact, we sold these plants for a premium as they produced better numbers of desirable stems. Their fibrous root system makes them transplant and propagate easily. (We do have more difficulty with the Korean Spice rooted cuttings.)
Another plant that makes a great wind break is the American Cranberry Bush. A deciduous shrub, the American Cranberry Bush is commonly found throughout the northern tier of states in the United States. In these locations, it is a resident of open, wet woodlands and beside streams and some other bodies of water. It has an outer row of showy, sterile flowers resembling Hydrangeas. Also known as Highbush Cranberry ( because of its red fruits), this shrub has strong stems and thick branches, and may reach 12 feet tall by 12 feet wide when found in the open, with an arching growth habit at maturity that leaves the center of the plant devoid of branches. This shrub can be cut back hard and recovers quickly. New landscape cultivars of this species have a much more compact and dense growth habit. As a member of the Honeysuckle Family, it is related to the Honeysuckles, Elderberries, Weigelas, and the many other Viburnums. Viburnums have been cultivated by man for thousands of years and this particular variety is my favorite for fast growing and easy to cultivate plants. If you have had trouble growing other plants in your landscape, this is a plant that will not fail for you. Planting Requirements - American Cranberrybush prefers moist to wet soils of rich or average composition, and of acidic pH. However, it tolerates dry soils of acidic, neutral, or alkaline pH reasonably well. It loves full sun to partial sun, and performs well in partial shade to full shade, although its growth habit will be much more sparse. It habitat range is found in zones 2 to 7. We always have in stock a large selection of this viburnum. Our availability in sizes ranges from seedlings and liners to 4-5' shrubs B&B ready to pickup.
One last point in helping the environment. Try not to harm snakes. Snakes play a large role in controlling the population of mice and rats within an ecosystem. Mice are one of the largest killers of small nursery stock. Without the control of snakes these creatures would have an enormous impact to your gardens. Better growth by your plants means faster blockage of winds in the winter.
The reproduction rate of most mice and rats is far greater then most people realize. Rats for reproduce at a rate of almost 200 babies from just a single specimen. Now imagine if you missed that one mouse or rat…2 years in a row. The numbers begin to climb very fast to a huge number.
Besides protecting your trees and shrubs snakes will help reduce the threat levels from rat droppings and urine which is left behind to contaminate any place they have been. Rodents are known to carry diseases. Anything from salmonella, rickets , rat bite fever, tapeworms, and organisms that may cause ringworm. How could anyone kill a snake????
So, now you know why I capture and collect snakes for our nurseries and farms. If you don't want your snakes, bring them to us we will barter…. your snake for nursery stock. see http://www.seedlingsrus.com/TradesWanted.html See our many web sites at:
http://www.zone5trees.com , http://www.highlandhillfarm and http://www.seedlingsrus.com and http://www.greengiantarbs.com http://www..HuntingRelics.com
About the Author
Bill Hirst has been growing plants on his 200 acre farm in Bucks County for 30 years. His web sites are http://www.seedlingsrus.com and http://www.digatree.com Sign up for Bill's newsletter at http://www.seedlingsrus.com/123456signup.html