Shovel
Three-prong cultivator
Tape measure
Sledge hammer
Wire cutters
In this video, This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook and host Kevin O’Connor share pro tips for cutting energy costs with strategic tree planting.
Steps:
1 When building a new home, face front of house toward the south for solar heat gain.
2 In colder climates, plant evergreen trees on north side of house to block winter winds.
3 Plant deciduous trees on south side of house to block summer sun.
Pro Tip: This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook explains the logic behind deciduous trees: “In the summertime, all those leaves will block the sun from coming into the house. Then in the winter time, the leaves fall off and all that sun can come in, the sun’s rays will warm the house.”
When choosing trees, think about placement on the south, east, and west sides of your house. Two popular varieties are red oak for large lots (it grows to 70 feet) and trident maple for smaller properties. Before you buy any saplings, check with your city’s public works department — some trees have invasive roots that can plug water or sewer lines.
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