Pine Tree Fences - Go Green and Conserve Energy All at the Same Time
The concept of using a snow fence is to keep the snow from drifting up on the house or road or at least minimize it. Tree fences work the same way with wind. This is a simple way to save energy if you are willing to do some heavy lifting and a lot of digging.
What Trees Make the Best Tree Fences?
The thicker the tree, the better the wind blocking ability of the tree. Spruces and Arborvitaes provide the best form of wind blockage because they can be planted close together and transplanted during maturity with a high percentage survival rate. For instant gratification, the trees should be about 6' to 8' tall in order to provide a solid blockade from the wind. The trees should be no further away than 100 yards in either direction to slow the flow of wind. The closest these trees should be planted is 8 yards from the house to prevent foundation damage when the trees reach full maturity. Some of these trees can reach over 20 feet tall.
What Kind of Layout Should I Use?
Basically you are creating a wall with trees. The square area that surrounds your entire house is the easiest to plant and maintain. Make a simple design to keep costs and time spent on this project to a minimum.
What Kind of Energy Savings Can I Expect?
Because wind direction and speed vary from region to region, it is impossible to say. It could be 10%, it could be 20%. I have a friend that built a house 8 miles in the middle of the woods and only uses a wood burning stove for heat because the wind, as he puts it, "Never gets to me."
This is a project that most people would have to start out with saplings to be able to afford a project like this as full growth trees can cost $100 to $300 per tree. But the premise is still there that this is a great way to go green and save on energy.