Landscaping

Great Essays
There are two main things that will be considered in this article to help you create an energy efficient home through landscaping. Choosing the correct landscaping can save you money year round. According to the US Department of Energy, a tree planted in the right place can save you up to 25% of the cost of cooling your home. Two or three well placed trees can save the average home $100-$250 per year in energy costs. So, grab your shovel and let's get started! Shading First, consider shading. In the summer a shaded area can be up to nine degrees cooler that a sunny area. You've undoubtedly noticed this if you have ever taken a walk in the middle of a hot summer day. As the sweat pours off of your face, you spot a tree ahead. You might walk …show more content…
Depending on what part of the country they are from, this can change. For example, in Arizona, it is common to have rocks as a landscape beautified with cactus and other desert dwelling shrubbery. On the East coast, trees and flowers decorate a home's front yard. So what does it take to accomplish this? As mentioned before, having the right tools is the most important factor, it is the difference between being able to water a flower or plant an entire flower garden. Establishing your goals Landscaping tools come in a variety of shapes and sizes, although they may look the same, can often be made for a particular environment or landscaping purpose. Because of this, it is important to first establish what you will be doing. Will you have a variety of gardens, just one garden, or no gardens? Will you have trees? Will you have grass or populate your front yard with rocks. Do you intend to attract birds or other wildlife? These are all important questions when determining what you need; however, there are the basic essentials. These essentials will provide you with an easier way of getting what you need done with slightly less physical exertion. These basic essentials include, but are not limited to: Trowel (a hand shovel) gardening gloves (unless you really want a green thumb) water …show more content…
With this in mind here are 15 tips on how and what you can do to keep your home and landscaping fire-safe from those blistering summer days: Tip 1: Make sure to remove any dead plants, and dry wood away from your home. Clean any loose debris that might be a hazard. Tip 2: Prune any trees that are at least 10 to 20 feet from your home. Tip 3: If you have any flammable trees and/or plants replace them with plants that are not easy to catch a fire. For example, try Ice plants. Tip 4: Clear the roof and under your home from any shrubs and trees. Tip 5: When planting your plant allow plenty of space in between them Avoid of planting anything that are in need of been tightening together. Tip6: Mow your grass. Tip 7: If you use mulch keep away from pine bark. Tip 8: Choose fire resistance material. You can do this by visiting the nearest nursery in your neighborhood. Tip 9: Design Zones that are fire-safe. You can use stone walls, swimming pools, and roadways. Tip 10: When gardening use high moisture plants. Theses plants will keep from becoming dry during the hot summer days. Also try to choose plants that can resist ignitions. For example, rock rose and Ice plants. You can find out more about plats in a local nursery. Tip

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