 | Justin Cawyer is the CEO of American Lawn & Landscape Inc., and has been in the landscape industry for 22 years. Starting out as a mowing service, their business has expanded to include everything from landscaping to fertilizing and weed control. For a complete list of services, you can see their ad in Names and Numbers, visit yardsbyamerican.com, or call 620-249-5700. |
Lawn, Garden & Landscaping
2012-11-07 11:10:57
Smart Landscaping
A- You may be very interested in knowing that one of the best investments you can make in landscaping is planting trees. Not only are trees very aesthetically pleasing, come in a wide range of options, and are affordable, they can help save you money.
A well-designed landscape that includes trees will add value and help you reduce expenses. In summer, trees create shade and block the sun's rays from heating up the home. Along with shade, evapotranspiration (the process by which trees and plants release water vapor) can reduce surrounding air temperatures by 9 degrees F. Well-positioned trees can help reduce air conditioning cost by as much as 50%.
In fall and winter, trees are an effective windbreak. Not only does it reduce the wear and tear on the home, windbreaks help you reduce fuel consumption by 25%.
An interesting study by the National Renewable Laboratory notes that an 8 ft. deciduous tree costs about the same as an awning for one window, yet has far greater advantages to the home and bank account. They state that planting three trees can save you $250 in energy costs annually, reduce the consumption of water, use of pesticides, and fuel needed for maintenance.
With all of those trees, you might be wondering about leaf removal. When you think about it, leaf removal is a worthwhile chore when you consider the advantages provided by the trees. Also, once collected, you can always consider using the leaves in mulch or compost.
