Two or more rows are best if space allows, but even a single row will help. Planting trees can produce significant cash savings when they are properly used for shade and winter wind protection. Studies show that shade trees can produce savings of more than 50 percent in air conditioning use and associated energy costs. The contribution of trees in winter may not be as obvious, bust can be just as dramatic. Homes that use windbreaks can save as much as 17 percent on heating bills.
Trees are prized possessions in our communities.
They give needed shade in summer, help clear the air of pollutants, provide a home for songbirds and wildlife, and please the eye with the beauty of their foliage and blossoms. But when a tree's branches start to come close to or actually touch utility power lines, a potentially hazardous situation is created. Trees and power lines can co-exist, and potential conflicts can be avoided by selecting and planting trees with size and growth characteristics appropriate to their location. Taller existing trees in this zone should be pruned to grow around the wires by the utility company.