Mature trees add "curb appeal" to a property and can make a home more energy efficient. Planted at the edges of a building, a tree's broad canopy of leaves softens the hard lines of architecture and offers shade. Trees absorb light reflected from the roof and decrease the air temperature surrounding your home through evaporation of moisture.

The positioning of trees and shrubs around your home has a significant effect on how much you'll be paying to heat and cool your house each month. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, even one strategically placed tree can reduce your heating and cooling bill up to 25 percent. In general, deciduous trees planted on the south and west sides of the house keep the home cool during the summer and allow low-angle sun into the home during the winter. If you live on a windy hill or coastal bluff, planting evergreen trees or shrubs on the north and west sides of your structure will help protect your home from winter gusts and storms.

Consult your landscape designer for advice about your particular property.

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