We’ve
experienced some dramatic heat waves this summer. Temperature records continue to be broken,
particularly in the far West. And heat
is not just uncomfortable, it can actually affect your health. That’s why it’s time for Western gardeners to
start taking the subject of shade seriously.
The Southern
and Eastern coasts have their hurricanes and floods; the Midwest it’s tornadoes
(and floods). In the West we have our
droughts, wildfires – and heat. Each
region experiences extreme weather that can make life miserable, destroy
property and yes, kill. So, we need to
prepare for extreme weather.
And the
situation isn’t likely to get any better.
In fact, we can expect to experience weather extremes more often in the
future. We are already seeing these effects of climate change in every part of
the globe, including California. That’s
why planning for extreme heat is
important for gardeners throughout the West.
And the time to plan – and act – is NOW.
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| Native live oaks provide cool, dry shade |
California’s
natural areas can teach us valuable lessons about surviving heat. Visit a nature preserve or forest on a hot, dry day to
directly experience the dramatic difference between sunny areas and nearby shade
under trees. The temperature difference
can be as great as 10-15 degrees Fahrenheit (5.5 to 8.3 degrees C.) between the
two. The shade beneath trees is often at
least 5 degrees cooler than even the shade produced by man-made structures
(porches; canopies).
Why
is it cooler in the shade beneath trees? There are several processes at
work. First, the leaves in the tree
canopy capture (and use) some of the energy arriving from the sun. Less of the
energy is released as heat; and the heat is released from many leaves, some of
which are high above the ground. So less
heat reaches the ground.
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| A porch provides shady seating. |
In
contrast, most man-made structures reflect some of the energy (particularly if
coated with a reflective coating), but mostly absorb it and release it as
heat. You can often feel the heat
radiating from a roof or wall on a hot day. So a shady back porch, while cooler than in
the sun, is less efficient at releasing heat than is a tree.
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| Trees provide cooling shade in the Gardena Willows Wetland Preserve |
A
second, and more important reason involves a process known as evaporative cooling. On a hot day,
plants release water (water vapor) into the surrounding air. This increases the humidity around the plant,
cooling the surrounding air on hot, dry days. Think of plants as Mother
Nature’s mist machines – it’s the same principle. Evaporative cooling is the main reason why you
feel cool when sitting under a tree on a hot day. Of course evaporative cooling works best when
the air is dry. On hot humid days, the
effects (alas) are less.
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| Established trees provide maximum shade and cool. |
The
wisdom of shade trees was well known in past generations. Native inhabitants took advantage of shady
groves and forests during the hot months of summer and fall. Early settlers and suburban ‘settlers’
planted shade trees among their first improvements. Before the era of air conditioning, all
Westerners knew the value of a good shade tree.
But in some neighborhoods, that wisdom seems to have been lost.
The
take home message is clear: if you live in an area that experiences hot, dry
conditions you need to invest in large plants, particularly shade trees. Choose those that are water wise – you have
lots to choose from, and many large trees require less water than you think.
You might get some ideas here: http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2015/09/sustainable-gardening-trees-for.html
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| Blue elderberry provide shady seating. |
Choose
a tree that gives you something to eat: a citrus tree, another garden fruit
tree or a Blue elderberry or native cherry.
Or choose a tree/large shrub with other characteristics you like. A tree can provide food, habitat and beauty
in addition to shade. Make the most of
your space by choosing wisely.
Plant
the tree next winter, when the ground is moist and a tree has the best chance
of getting off to a good start. Plant it
where it will shade your house or provide shady outdoor seating; in our
hemisphere, shade is to the north and east of trees. Give your tree some extra water the first 3-4
years after planting. It needs to grow
and establish a good root system.
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| Shade trees help cool a local home. |
And
then, in 4-5 years or perhaps a little more, you will experience the joys of
shade in your own yard. You’ll be
thankful when you sit outside – or when the electricity goes out during a heat
wave. You have planned ahead for the
inevitable – more hot days, in pretty much every month of the year, in S.
California.
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For further reading
We
welcome your comments (below). You can
also send your questions to: mothernaturesbackyard10@gmail.com
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