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Yes, it is a hot one, folks. But sighing and wiping off the sweat won't change it. When it comes to cool, inside the home or for outdoor living spaces, well planned landscaping for energy conservation is the ticket. Proper selection and placement of trees, shrubs and vines can reduce summer cooling bills 50 percent or more. Why toss and turn in an open-eyed insomnia, stressed over utility bills?
Summer heat affects our homes in two ways: conduction and radiation.
In conduction, building materials will absorb heat and conduct it to the inside. In radiation, sunlight pours in east or west facing windows, heating up interiors.
To moderate the effects of heat conduction, trees and can be planted on the east, southeast, southwest and west sides of the home. Plan and plant with respect to fully mature sizes. Remember: while a 4" caliper Kentucky Coffee Tree Shades your deck from two feet away, it will eventually spread to 35 feet in diameter!
Foundation plantings of shrubs will reduce the amount of sunlight reaching walls and moderate temperature differences. Choose shrubs tall enough to shade the walls. Evergreen shrubs on the west side will not only reduce solar conduction in the summer, but will also reduce wind effects in the winter. lf junipers bore you, visit the nurseries and check out all the exciting options. R.H. Montgomery is a dwarf spruce in yummy shades of blue green. A dwarf form of the Austrian Pine grows only six feet, with 3" lustrous green needles.
Alas, it takes time for these shrubs to mature and ultimately protect your home. That's why vines are so great! They mature more quickly and can be trained around windows and over structures. If vines are grown on a trellis, painting and staining is still a breeze. Silverlace vine will fly 10' up a trellis set 12" away from a sun baked brick wall ... in one summer. Annual vines allow you to experiment with different flower and foliage effects each season.
Man-made structures too can help protect your home from the radiant effects of our intense sun. Strategically placed trellis work or arbors can shade patios, windows and doorways. Pergolas create instant shade for west facing decks and windows. Vines intertwining these structures add even more protection with the benefits of fragrance, fruits or even fall color.
In planning your energy efficient landscape, observe how the sun strikes your home early mornings and late afternoons. With this information you can plan for the most effective shading.
Why close all your blinds and shut out the Colorado views? Why squint and sweat as you grill those rib- eyes? Build that pergola and relax in the cooling dappled shade of your newly renovated landscape!
For further information on how to create a shady haven and conserve energy, refer to Fact Sheet #7.225 - Landscaping for Energy Conservation.
Q: I want to convert some of my turf areas into xeriscape beds for next spring. What do you recommend?
A: If your soil is good, you can use a chemical-free method. Cover the turf areas with newspaper about 10 sheets thick. Soak it thoroughly with water. Put a wood chip mulch on top. Thoroughly water it. Keep it moist- not soggy- and in the next 6-8 weeks the grass will die, the newspaper will break down and you'll have the start of new beds.
Chemically, you can spray Round Up on the bed areas and let it kill the turf. It may take a few applications. Once the turf is fully dead, rototill it under, 6-12". Add soil amendments if it needs it and you're ready to plant.
Q: What can I do with the extra vegetables from my garden?
A: One option is to bring those extra veggies to the Larimer County Food Bank. They would love to have your produce. Simply bring it to 1301 Blue Spruce Drive in Fort Collins on Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
If you have a flowering perennial plant that you would prefer to not see in “bloom”, such as lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantia) consider “livehead” - removing perfectly good flowers by cutting the flower stalks back to the base of the plant. Many plants are grown for their foliage instead of their flowers. Never feel guilty about removing a plant’s flowers if they clash or flower stalks are too tall. Allow the leaves alone to create softness and depth to your garden design.
A water feature attracts butterflies and birds to your garden. If you don’t have one, create a low cost, easy to move feature out of a terra cotta saucer. Here’s how. Fill a 14-inch terra cotta saucer with sand and add a small amount of composted manure or an old piece of fruit and enough water to keep the whole thing moist. The manure and/or fruit dissolve in the water and will provide nutrients. Place it in a brightly flowering spot in the garden and watch the butterflies absorb water and minerals as they drink.
Supplemental watering of your compost bin or pile is essential this summer due to lack of rain. Attach a sprinkler to your garden hose and place on top or inside your compost bin and water with low pressure for 20 minutes. Turn the pile the next day and water again as necessary. For more information on composting contact the Larimer County Extension Office, 498-6000.
The authors have received training through Colorado State University Cooperative Extension's Master Gardener program and is a Master Gardener volunteer for Larimer County.
Fact Sheets are available at the Larimer County Extension Office, 1525 Blue Spruce Drive, Fort Collins, Colorado, telephone (970) 498-6000, or contact us by e-mail at larimer@coop.ext.colostate.edu
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