The leaves of many evergreen trees and shrubs also absorb sound and muffle noise. A screen planting can make your landscape a quieter place. Shade One of the many uses of trees is to create shade. Shade trees reduce summer heat, making outdoor living more pleasant. In addition, a shaded roof and walls mean lower cooling costs.
Shade trees can be deciduous.
This means they lose their leaves in winter, letting the sun shine through the branches to warm your home and outdoor areas in cold weather. Ground Cover and Lawn Substitutes Use ground covers where grass will not grow, such as in the dense shade of tree canopies or where grass would be difficult or unsafe to mow, such as steep banks. Ground covers can be deciduous or evergreen. Usually they grow to a height of less than 18 inches. When fully established, most ground covers require little maintenance.