A well-placed tree, bush, or vine can deliver effective shade and add to the aesthetic value of your property. When designing your landscaping, first take a good look at your home and yard. It is important to use plants native to your area that survive with minimal care. Evergreens can greatly slow cold winter winds which for the most part come the west, north, and northwest. Large deciduous trees can provide shade and summer cooling, and then allow the sun's warm rays to enter the house during winter months.
Deciduous trees are most effective on the east, west, and south sides of the house.
Trees not only help conserve energy but also improve air and water quality, return moisture to the atmosphere resulting in dew and rain, moderate storm water runoff, soil erosion and flooding, provide wildlife food and shelter, lessen local temperature extremes, buffer against noise and dust, and mitigate the glare of urban and surburban lighting. Fences, walls, and garages positioned correctly can also be effective in protecting your house from the chilling winds of winter thereby resulting in heat-load reduction and lower heating bills. Consider the environmental impact of materials Materials used in construction all have some environmental impact. Each product or building material you use came from somewhere, went through some type of manufacturing process, and will be disposed of in some way once it no longer serves its purpose. Each nail used in your house, for example, began as raw iron-ore which had to be mined out of the earth.