PLEASE HELP MESolar heat absorbed through windows and roofs increases cooling costs, and incorporating shade trees helps reduce this heat gain. Shading and transpiration (the process by which a plant actively moves and releases water vapor) from trees can reduce surrounding air temperatures by as much as 6° F. Because cool air settles near the ground, air temperatures directly under trees can be as much as 25°F cooler than those above nearby blacktop surfaces. Designing landscapes for effective use of trees requires knowledge of the size, shape, and location of the moving tree’s shadow. To provide continuous shade or to block heavy winds, use dense evergreen trees or shrubs. To block solar heat in the summer but to let much of it in during the winter, use deciduous trees. Planting deciduous trees with high, spreading crowns (i. e., leaves and branches) to the south side of a home provides maximum summertime roof shading. Trees with crowns lower to the ground are more appropriate to the west, where shade is needed from lower afternoon sun angles.

To ensure lasting performance of energy-saving landscaping, use plant species that are adapted to the local climate. Native species, those which occur naturally in the area, are valued for their hardiness. Because they have thrived in that climate over time without human intervention, they require little maintenance once established and avoid the dangers of invasive species.

Planting trees properly is critical to the long-term success of your energy-conservation project and can raise your property value by up to five percent. Start by selecting the location for your planting. This will dictate the mature size of the tree and its needed planting space. Make sure you purchase a quality tree with a healthy root system (10 inches of container width per inch of trunk diameter at six inches above the soil line). Dig the hole to the depth of the root ball, and no deeper. Use native soil to backfill and wood chips for mulch. Staking should not be needed unless the trunk is over three inches in diameter.

Based on the documents shown, hardiness refers to the:

a)average trunk strength of the tree species.
b)likelihood that the tree will grow well.
c)average crown diameter of the tree species.
d)likelihood that the tree will provide the needed shade.
e)percentage of solar heat absorbed by the tree.