One of the best things about spending time outdoors is the fresh breeze gently brushing your skin, filling your every breath. But when the soft whiff of air becomes heavy winds that carry all sorts of dust and dirt, it quickly becomes a nuisance. And if strong winds are constant in some buildings, like luxury real estate properties, it can be damaging to the area and the surroundings. If you have plants, wind-blown particles can unnaturally bend or worse, damage them. This highlights the importance of windbreak trees.
For the unfamiliar, windbreaks are trees (and also shrubs) that break the force of strong winds. You will usually see them planted in one or more rows. When the wind breaks after passing through windbreakers, the force of the wind speed slows down and its impact lessens. This means a lower risk of property damage or possible harm to anyone in the area.
Brittany Corporation lists the best windbreak trees for privacy and security, why you need them in your backyard, and more.
If you are thinking about adding a windbreak around your luxury real estate property, keep in mind that windbreak trees can provide you with many benefits, depending on the problem you want to solve or the goals you want to achieve.
For instance, many farmers use windbreaks to protect their crops or livestock. You will often see farms surrounded by rows of trees and shrubs, which act as a fence of the area. This is not just for privacy because it can be a sheltered space for feeding animals, grazing, and other activities. These types of windbreaks are especially helpful in snowy regions because windbreaks prevent snow from drifting into the area it protects.
Now, the question is, how helpful are windbreaks or privacy trees in residential areas? First off, they help homeowners conserve energy costs. Because of the cooling effect of trees, privacy trees can provide a cool temperature during warm days, so you do not have to put your airconditioners in full blast. During rainy or colder days, these trees will protect you from the wind and prevent heat loss inside your home, resulting in lower heating bills.
Next, windbreaks are ideal for a great fence and screening. If you want to keep your privacy without the often hideous and huge walls blocking your outdoor view, privacy trees are the answer. For example, many homeowners use a combination of hedges and bushes for privacy. Layers of shrubs and bushes break wind speed on the ground instead of transferring it higher in the air to protect people. And the best part is these privacy trees are visually pleasing. Hedges and bushes give homes a royal atmosphere, which is one of the hallmarks of luxury living. They are very easy to maintain as well.
And finally, one of the best benefits of wind breaks is they function as carbon storage in the area they are planted in, allowing them to filter polluted air in the environment.
As mentioned above, each windbreak provides different benefits on the site they are on. To maximize these advantages, you need to find the best trees for your property. Some prefer tall, privacy trees like huge conifers, while others go for lower windbreaks like a beautiful row of evergreen layers. Fortunately, there are a variety of wind breaks you can choose from.
If you live in a multi-story luxury property, tall trees like the Italian Cypress can make good windbreaks. The long and slender composition of Italian Cypress provides coverage while giving a scenic and dramatic height for a boundary. A quick look at homes surrounded by Italian Cypress will make you think of a beautiful, Mediterranean garden in rural Italy. Italian Cypress can grow as tall as 20 meters (or 70 feet) and just needs occasional trimming to maintain its slender build.
Another tall tree that would make a privacy hedge is Thuja Green Giant. These large and dense conifer trees have needled leaves that sport a rich, green color during the spring and summer seasons and slowly change to warm bronze during the cold season.
The best thing about this tree variant is it grows fast. Thuja Green Giant can spring three to six feet every year until it fully matures at 30 to 40 feet. If you prefer shorter privacy trees for backyard, you can prune Thuja regularly to keep it short and compact. Thuja Green Giants are low-maintenance privacy trees, so they can tolerate shearing and hot climates. They grow well in most soil types too.
While evergreens are easy on the eyes, vibrant shades wouldn’t hurt. To add some color to your hedges, consider planting Flowering Dogwoods. This windbreak tree forms a rounded head and has smaller compared with Italian Cypress and Thuja Green Giant. Because of their size, Flowering Dog Woods are the best trees for privacy and screening on compact yards. Planting them as close as 10 feet away from the house will give you a lovely view during different seasons. Pleasant white bracts start appearing when spring comes. Then, red-purple foliage greets you during fall.
Take note that for smaller privacy trees for backyard like Flowering Dogwood, it is best to provide about 10 feet of space between each tree. Then, provide a 15 feet distance between each row.
Bamboo technically belongs to the grass family. However, their woody varieties make a great variant for fences. Their tall and thin body creates reliable layers for breaking wind speed and gives a distinct, oriental look to any backyard. They are low-maintenance as well, so you do not need to trim them regularly.
Pro tip: choose clump-forming varieties like Fargesia Robusta as these bamboo types are not invasive.
While trees make great windbreaks, not every home has adequate space for privacy trees in the backyard. The solution: adding climbing plants on Trellis panels. The combination of fence and plants give a refreshing and aesthetically-pleasing windbreaker in small yards without sacrificing functionality.
Windbreakers are certainly something you should consider whether you want to enjoy your privacy outdoors, get some fresh air, increase the value of your luxury real estate property, or all of the above. Just keep in mind: it is better to alternate different kinds of trees, shrubs, or plants for windbreaks. Planting rows of the same trees might compromise your entire fence in case of a pest outbreak.
Brittany Corporation is your reliable source for everything about luxury living, world-class luxury real estate properties, and everything in between. Come home to your dream residence with one of Brittany’s biggest projects: Forresta. This mega-luxurious mixed-use residence will be the home for Vista Land and Lifescapes Inc.’s most premium developments, encompassing ultra-luxury mansions, business districts, and leisure spots reserved only for the affluent few. Enjoy five-star amenities and low-density living in the South, surrounded by the nature.
Nothing defines the hallmarks of true luxury living more than Brittany. Ready to know more? Explore more properties under Brittany Corporation by taking a virtual tour. For any sales or career-related inquiries, connect to a Brittany Salesforce representative today.
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