For small deciduous trees, a crape myrtle, dogwood, Japanese maple, crabapple or flowering cherry is a good choice. Vines shade your home from the summer sun. They grow well on brick and concrete but may decay wood siding. Use a trellis to grow vines if your home is wood. Virginia creeper, clematis and roses work well.
Shrubs provide added insulation against chilling winter winds.
Evergreen shrubs are highly recommended because of their greater density. Try Japanese and Chinese hollies. Groundcovers can help make the area around your home cooler in summer. Periwinkle, ivy, grass, candytuft, pachysandra, low-growing junipers, wintercreeper, liriope and ajuga are good choices. The coldest winds come from the northwest.