03/09/2026
Beat next year’s heat and get planting now…
This summer was a bit much.
Next summer might be even hotter.
But there is something many of us can do to help keep cool.
Plant a tree.
The shade created by a tree can provide much needed relief from summer temperatures; on a hot day the ground under a single tree can be around 20C cooler than surrounding ground in full sun. With hard surfaces the difference in temperature can be even more. In full sun some surfaces can become hot enough to cause burns whereas the same surfaces in the shade of a tree can feel refreshingly cool to the touch. This can make a huge difference to our comfort and health as well as that of pets and wildlife. But it goes even further than that. If overall tree cover in residential areas is increased to around 30-40% the average air temperature can be lowered by as much as 5C. Trees shade heat absorbing surfaces such as roads, walls and paving which would otherwise store the heat and radiate it back into the air. The action of transpiration (water moving from the ground through a tree and evaporating into the air) also actively cools the air like a natural air conditioning system. So the more people who choose to plant a tree the better it is for everyone. Strategically placed trees can even help control temperatures indoors. Deciduous trees positioned to shade a house wall or roof can help keep the house cooler in the summer but let the sun warm the same wall or roof in winter when the leaves have fallen. If a space is not suitable for a tree then shrubs or planted screens/overhead structures can provide the same benefits.
There are thousands of different types of trees to suit almost any location and shade isn’t all they can offer; trees can of course provide beauty, biodiversity, flowers, food and wellbeing. Humans were once a forest species. Studies into mental wellbeing demonstrate that being able to just see a tree has a profound positive impact on our ability to deal with stress and even boosts our cognitive abilities. This in turn can improve our overall mental and physical wellbeing.
They say that the best time to plant a tree was ten years ago, but the next best time is now. I’d second that. Particularly with next year’s weather potentially being another round of droughts and heatwaves. Planting in autumn rather than spring gives trees and plants some extra time before winter to get some roots down which makes them better equipped to cope with a hot, dry spring and summer. And don’t forget, most water companies allow the watering of newly planted trees with a hosepipe or a drip irrigation system if a hosepipe ban is imposed.
For a free consultation on trees or any other planting/garden design you can contact me on 07783 276265, email [email protected] or message me via facebook.
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