Shade trees are pretty spectacular in so many ways. For starters, they look amazing and make a fantastic addition to any yard. Under the broad, green canopy, you can take full advantage of the shade by sitting under it with a nice cup of coffee, or perhaps laying under it in a hammock and reading a book or taking a nap. There are many advantages to having shade trees in your yard. Some benefits include providing their shade as a cool refuge on hot summer days, helping to keep your house cooler, and reduce your energy bills. Our team at Five Star Tree Services is going to discuss the many benefits these trees provide.
Sun Protection
The sun should be your biggest concern when going outside. It is very powerful and can easily burn your skin. Finding a nice shade tree to hang out under during the scorching summer heat can help keep you cool and protect your skin from the sun. In order to make sure you get maximum protection, choose shade trees with the following:
-dense foliage: the more leaf cover there is, the less sunlight gets through to your skin.
-trees beside trees: trees that are close together can help block the sun even more than just one.
-timing: UV rays are the strongest from 10am to 4pm, seek shelter under trees during this time.
-find any tree- if you have limited trees to pick from for shelter, anything is better than leaving your skin exposed to the direct sun.
Keeping It Cool
You might have noticed that during the summer there seems to be a temperature difference between walking in the direct sunlight and walking under the shade of a tree. You are not hallucinating; this is actually a thing that happens naturally. Being under a shade tree can help keep you cooler during hot days. This is due to the trees being able to absorb the sun’s radiant heat, which reduces the temperature you feel under the tree.
Trees have the ability to regulate and reduce the air temperature by as much as 3 degrees Celsius. Since cooler air is heavier than warm air, the air temperature under the tree can be reduced as much as 12 degrees! Which is quite a significant amount.
Due to this temperature regulation, having a shade tree by your house can help keep it cooler during the summer. Strategically planting them has the ability to reduce your energy/AC bills by up to 35%. If you plant them on the east side of your house, you can have morning shade. If you plant them on the south side of your house, you can have mid-morning and early afternoon shade. If you plant them on the west side of your house, you can have afternoon shade (which is the hottest time of the day).
Shade Tree Care
It’s important to keep your trees healthy and happy if you want to maximize the rewards of having them. Here is how you can make sure they have the care they need to thrive.
Consult professionals- getting a licensed arborist over to check your trees on an annual basis is the best thing you can do. This is particularly important if you think something is wrong with your tree. Being proactive can help you keep ahead of preventable problems and get them fixed right away before they become too serious.
Essential care- trees need lots of water. If you are going through a dry period, watering your trees is imperative. Adding fertilizer yearly can also help boost your tree’s health by adding much needed nutrients.
Inspect your tree- keep an eye out for pests and diseases. They can be treatable when found early enough. If you notice anything out of the ordinary on the leaves or bark, look into it immediately.
Examinations- take a good look at your tree from the roots to the top of the canopy. Inspect for things like dying or dead branches, soft wood, and holes in the trunk.
How Five Star Tree Service Can Help
Make sure to maximize the benefits of shade trees during these particularly hot summer days, it can even help to save you money! Our team at Five Star Tree Services can help you! If you need tree care in Toronto, make sure to give us a call today at (416) 990-3355!