The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California

Small Home Landscaping

The sun gives its greatest spread of light and reaches its highest point in summer when it rises in the northeast and sets in the northwest. It reaches its lowest in winter. Then it rises in the southeast, does not get very high and sets in the south-west. The angle at which the sun strikes a tree or building varies all through the season and the shade is always shifting. At noon in summer, it is almost directly overhead. At this point, little heat is absorbed by the walls of the house, but it hits the roof with a vengeance. Only directly under the tree at noon is there any shade. In winter the low angle at which the sun strikes would bring it right under the same tree, assuming it is placed correctly, to shine on the walls and windows. Then it is most welcome.

If the house or terrace faces directly south, a tree directly centered on the house or terrace would give you forenoon shade. After midday, the shade moves gradually away from the house as the sun moves west. Shade is lost in the afternoon when most needed. To get the most afternoon shade, set the tree at a point southwest of the feature to be shaded. To get morning shade, set the tree southeast of the house or terrace. At these points there is no interference with winter light. Nor will the tree obstruct summer breezes which are generally from the south.

With the house facing southwest, a tree in the center would give shade to that part all afternoon. But facing southeast, the tree would give forenoon shade only. How ever, the house itself would cast shade at this point in the afternoon. The tree would then be needed toward the rear of the house or southwest corner to provide shade during the afternoon when the sun moves west.

Depending on the size of the tree, the distance at which it is set from the house, terrace or other feature to be shaded affects the amount of shade given. A tree which has a height of 50 feet and a spread of 30 feet has a 15-foot spread on each side of the tree. Sometime between 3 and 4 p. m. in summer, the shadow cast on the ground will equal the dimension of the tree. But this same tree in mid-winter will cast a shadow nearly 120 ft. long. To shade the roof or part of it in summer, a tree of the above dimensions would be set 7 to 10 feet from the house at the points suggested.

This would give a possible roof shade of some 5 to 7 feet at noon. As the sun moves farther west, more shade is cast on the roof.

A two-story house would require a very high tree for the branches would be required to start at the line of the eaves. Then, as the sun dropped to the west, the rays would strike under the tree on to the lower windows, or a terrace. The one-story or one-and-a-half-story house would not be so affected. The lower spread would still shade the house lower down.