Trees provide so many benefits. They provide food and habitat for bees and other pollinating insects; trap pollution and act as filters; reduce heat in cities and improve public health; and reduce flooding and water pollution.
Usually planted in gardens for aesthetic reasons, trees can help gardens by acting as natural windbreaks and reduce soil erosion. Trees also create sheltered microclimates that can boost garden health and control temperatures.
What is a windbreak?
A windbreak is a semi-permeable barrier that filters wind while a wall or a fence would stop it completely. A solid barrier creates wind eddies that cause air turbulence. Windbreaks, however, filter the wind through the trees and reduce its force. They provide more protection for crops and plants, all while allowing airflow to help deal with pests.
What are the benefits of windbreaks?
When planted strategically, trees can slow the wind down by 50–80%, which can reduce the amount of damage to delicate plants. Tree can also create more temperate conditions. This can benefit plants by altering the airflow.
Windbreaks can help us to retain the nutrient-rich topsoil, which is essential for growing health plants, by preventing wind erosion. They are also beneficial by reducing moisture loss, meaning that you do not need to water your garden quite as much.
Planting trees around your house can reduce your heating and cooling costs by making your house more energy efficient. Trees can keep your house cooler in the hotter months by providing shade, and warmer in the colder months by protecting the house from the wind. This means you burn less fossil fuels to generate energy to manage the temperature of your home, whether it is gas or electric, reducing your carbon footprint.
