Editor's note: This is the last article in a series of 10 written by Bob Polomski. Clemson Extension consumer horticulturist.

DATE: 6/14/06                                                                                                   WRITER: Bob Polomski, Extension Consumer Horticulturist, (864) 656-2604; bplmsk@clemson.edu

Trees are cool

CLEMSON -- Check out any parking lot in the summertime and notice that the spaces shaded by the leafy limbs of a tree are always occupied. In fact, many of us are willing to park a little farther away just to park in the cool shade of a tree.

These little oases of shade are rarely found in urban and suburban areas that have become “heat islands,” which are created by dark-colored pavements and roofing materials that act like solar collectors to absorb and retain the sun’s heat. Besides being downright uncomfortable, the hot temperatures that occur in these urban heat islands contribute to poor air quality, higher electric bills, and heat related illnesses.

Researchers have discovered part of the solution to combating the negative effects of heat islands is to plant trees. Besides providing shade from the sun, trees absorb carbon dioxide, filter out air pollutants, and replenish the environment with oxygen.

Trees also have visual benefits. Our towns and cities are more attractive to business and tourism. Trees hide harsh scenery and soften the hard outlines of masonry, metal, and glass. 

Closer to home, trees surround us with the seasonal beauty of their leaves and flowers, and their attractive bark and branch architecture. They offer privacy and hide unsightly views. Trees and shrubs provide food, shelter, and nesting for wildlife. Pollen and nectar for hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees are additional bonuses. Their roots keep soil in place and increase water movement into soil to reduce surface runoff from storms.

Count on trees to save you energy and money. When planted on the southeastern and western sides of your home, the shade provided by deciduous trees can reduce indoor temperatures by 8 to 10 degrees in the summer and reduce air conditioning costs up to 30 percent.

With the availability of container-grown trees, the planting season is limited only by extremely hot weather and your ability to water them regularly until they become established. You can plant now and throughout the summer months, as long as you’re prepared to be on call with adequate water to help your trees become established.

The establishment period for a tree varies by location. Research has shown that the establishment period for a newly planted tree near the coast will take three months per inch of trunk caliper (trunk diameter measured six inches above the ground). That same tree will require six months of regular watering in the Midlands and the Piedmont . Unless you’re willing to put in the time, wait until the fall when the odds of successful establishment will be in your favor.

To learn more about the benefits of trees and recommended trees for your landscape and community, visit the S.C. Forestry Commission Urban and Community Forestry website at http://www.state.sc.us/forest/urban.htm and the Clemson Extension Home & Garden Information Center website at http://hgic.clemson.edu.

This summer if you just can’t take the heat, sit underneath a tree. You’ll be glad you did…because trees are cool.

Funds for this project were provided by the Urban and Community Forestry grant assistance program administered through the S.C. Forestry Commission and funded by the USDA Forest Service and the S.C. Nursery & Landscape Association.

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