‘The Heat Is On’

Part 2

For the summer months we are continuing our articles regarding landscaping with energy efficiency in mind. As I prepare this article, here in the last weeks of June, our afternoon temperatures are already in the mid to high nineties with a daily heat index in the 100’s. We still have at least three months of these temperatures ahead of us. So now is the time to consider some options for making your home’s exterior environment cooler and more livable. As we discussed last month this can also help to cut the costs for cooling your home’s interior.

For June we featured a beautiful shade tree that also provided some exceptional fall color when cooler weather begins. The Florida Flame Red Maple is still available in 30 gallon (12 to14 ft.) and 100 gallon (18 to 20 ft.) sizes. Click here to view our specials.

One of the largest heat gain factors inside your home is direct sunlight through un-shaded windows. A 6-foot to 8-foot deciduous tree planted near your home will begin shading windows the first year. Depending on the species and the home, the tree will shade the roof in 5–10 years. Shading your air conditioning unit can increase its efficiency by as much as 10%.

Trees are not the only solution to making your home environment more beautiful and energy efficient. Shrubs and groundcover plants can also shade the ground and pavement around the home. This reduces heat radiation and cools the air as it reaches your home’s walls and windows. Use a large bush or row of shrubs to shade a patio or driveway. Plant a hedge to shade a sidewalk. Build a trellis for climbing vines to shade a patio area. Vines can also shade walls during their first growing season. A lattice or trellis with climbing vines, or a planter box with trailing vines, shades the home’s perimeter while admitting cooling breezes to the shaded area.

Shrubs planted close to the house will fill in rapidly and begin shading walls and windows within a few years. You should always plant far enough back from the wall to make sure shrubs are not touching the wall and to allow for maintenance. This also provides a channel for wind to move between the house and the plants. Through a process called evapotranspiration, plants actively move and release water vapor. As this happens and the wind circulates between the plants and the walls of the house it creates a natural cooling environment.

However, avoid allowing dense foliage to grow immediately next to a home where wetness or continual humidity is a problem.. Well-landscaped homes in wet areas allow winds to flow around the home, keeping the home and its surrounding soil reasonably dry.

On average, landscaping for energy efficiency provides enough energy savings to return your investment in 8 years or less. And, if designed well, on top of this you will get many more years of enjoyment from a landscape environment that is not only pleasing to the eye, but that you and your family will spend a lot more time in, year round.

With over 28 years of combined experience in our Planning and Design Department we have what it takes to design such an environment for you and your family. We will take the time to find out what activities you enjoy and where you want to spend your outside time. From that we will design ways to make your expectations a reality.

Just CLICK on the REQUEST A BID tab, give us some basic contact information and we will be glad to make an appointment to meet with you. Or, give us a call at 407-595-5818.

Jim Adams
7/2011

Asiatic Jasmine

Ground covers are an important part of any landscape design where energy efficiency and conservation is a consideration. With proper selection for specific areas, they can be very efficient in cutting down on heat build up and transference around the exterior of your home and therefore help reduce the amount of heat absorbed into your home.

 

Asian Jasmine in BedThere are some ground covers that do not need a lot of sun and will grow in shady areas of your yard where sod does not do well. Certain ground covers can be used on slopes to provide erosion control. They can be planted next to a driveway or walkway to provide a barrier or to discourage traffic patterns and will again help absorb heat from concrete or blacktop. And ground covers, if selected properly for the area, will use much less water than most turfs, once established.

 

One of the most popular ground covers that we install is Asian Jasmine. We usually plant Asian Jasmine in defined areas to establish large, shady beds, such as under large trees, although this plant tolerates sun just as well. It is a dense, fast growing ground cover with small oval leaves that are shiny. It prefers moist, well drained, well prepared soil for best establishment. Once established, it is fairly drought tolerant and requires very little in the way of maintenance as long as planted in a defined area. In most cases Asian Jasmine will climb only if trained to do so.

 

As a rule this plant is evergreen in our local climate. It grows to a height of 6 to 12 inches, spreads to 3 ft. plus and is very hardy in our grow zone. It is dense enough, once established, to discourage most weed growth, although some hand weeding may be required until established.

 

We can supply and install Asian Jasmine in a one (1) gallon size for $3.50 per plant with a minimum of 100 plants. There may be some additional charges if you do not have an established bed where plants are to be installed, or if extra top soil dressing needs to used prior to installation.

 

We are always available to visit your property and give you a set contract price for installing any plant material you may require for your landscaping needs. Just give us a call at 407-595-5818 or fill out the REQUEST A BID FORM at the top of this page.

‘The Heat is On’

Glenn Frey’s version of this song rocks. The extreme heat of Florida’s summers, not so much. And June is only the beginning. We are still experiencing some nice comfortable temperatures in the evenings and for a couple of hours in the mornings. But as we head further into the summer it seems the heat keeps building and accumulating until there is no relief at any time of day. And as the temperatures rise, so do our energy costs as we try to keep our homes cool and comfortable.

A well-designed landscape not only can add beauty to your home but it also can reduce your heating and cooling costs. As the sun beats down, solar heat is absorbed through windows and rooftops and your air conditioning usage increases proportionately. By incorporating some trees and other shading concepts into your landscape design, you can reduce this solar heat gain, reducing your cooling costs for inside and making your homes exterior more relaxing and enjoyable for the summer months.

Even on the hottest of days, I’m sure you have noticed that if you can find a nice big shade tree under which to relax, life is much more pleasant. One reason is that plants actively move and release water vapor. This process is called evapotranspiration and can reduce surrounding air temperatures by as much as 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Because cool air settles near the ground, air temperatures directly under trees can be as much as 25 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than air above a nearby open area.

A little planning and forethought should be applied before selecting trees for your landscaping. We at JLC Outdoors can help you decide on the appropriate sizes, densities, and shapes for almost any shading application. A deciduous tree planted in the right location will block solar heat in the summer but let much of it in during winter. Evergreen trees and shrubs are fantastic for providing continuous shade or for blocking noise from street traffic.

Deciduous trees with high, spreading crowns (i.e., leaves and branches) can be planted to the south of your home to provide 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. Although a slow-growing tree may require many years of growth before it shades your roof, it will generally live longer than a fast-growing tree. Also, because slow-growing trees often have deeper roots and stronger branches, they are less prone to breakage by high winds. Slow-growing trees can also be more drought resistant than fast-growing trees.

With over 28 years combined experience in our Planning and Design Department, at JLC Outdoors we have what it takes to consult with you on a plan for shading your home. Fill out the CONTACT US FORM on our website or give us a call at 407-595-5818. We will be glad to meet and work with you to make your outdoors cooler and more enjoyable.

Jim Adams
6/01/11

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