Did you know landscaping can actually save you money? A well-designed landscape can lower your air conditioning cost by anywhere from 15% to a whopping 50%. And it's not just in the summer time. Trees and shrubs can lower the wind chill near your home in the colder months, saving you money on heating. In this post, I will share some statistics and advice from the United States Department of Energy on how much of an impact these savings can have on your wallet.

Summertime Shade!

Summer sun is great if you want a tan or are spending the day at the beach, but not so good if you want to keep your house cool. According to the Department of Energy, a neighborhood with shade trees is on average 6 degrees cooler!

Planting deciduous trees (the kind that lose their leaves in the fall) is great for our area because they shade in the summer and let in sunlight in the winter. They also let breezes past their trunks while casting shade. A 6-8 foot tree will shade a window right away, and will shade your roof in 5-10 years depending on the kind of tree you choose. The best place for shade on your home is on the South and West sides.

Another good thing about trees and tall shrubs is that they block out noise. Being able to enjoy your property in peace is a huge plus!

Saving Water

Keeping your landscape watered when it's hot can be a challenge. Whether you're trying to keep your plants from drying out or you just want to use less water, here are some of the best tips I've given homeowners:

• Water in the morning and the evening. Less water will evaporate so there's less water waste.
• Use mulched landscape beds to reduce the size of your lawn. Mulch holds water very well, so landscaped beds with mulch will use significantly less.
• Ornamental grasses need significantly less water compared to other common landscape plants. Planting these and other drought-tolerant shrubs and perennials will reduce how much water you need to use.

Want More Tips?

These tips will save you money and you'll get more enjoyment out of your lawn. For these tips and more, check out our Facebook or sign up for our email list!