Planting trees on your property can add a lot of beauty and value to your home, but did you know that it can also lower your energy bill? That’s right, a well landscaped yard can actually make your home more comfortable and energy efficient. Just how efficient can they be? According to the US Forest Service, planting two 25 foot tall trees can lower your climate control costs by 23 percent! Trees provide shade, and when they provide shade for your house itself, it reduces solar heat gain. This means that you don’t need to run your AC nearly as much in the summer time. Planting them along the south and western sides of your home will give you plenty of shade to keep your home comfortable. Come winter time, when the trees lose their leaves, you’ll be able to get more sunlight on the house, allowing solar heat gain to heat your home, reducing the need to run the heat. Trees become especially important the closer you live to a city. On average, cities tend to be 5°F warmer than the surrounding rural areas. Trees reduce this effect by shading the area around themselves and reducing the ambient air temperature. Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as just buying and planting a bunch of trees. They can take years to grow large enough to provide ample shade and certain types of trees work better in certain areas of your yard. The Arbor Day Foundation’s website has some tips available on choosing trees for your yard needs.