Warm Your Home With an Evergreen Windbreak: Energy Savings and Wildlife Habitat

Planting a windbreak is a commitment to the future — energy conservation as part of sustainable living. Yet rewards are immediate: maturing plants shelter wildlife and make outdoor spaces more livable year-round.

Winter's icy cold worsens with strong winds. Unchecked, cold air penetrates windows, doors, and small openings. An evergreen windbreak can reduce wind velocity by two-thirds and cut heating bills by 20–30%.

Use evergreen trees at least twice your home's height, planted perpendicular to prevailing winter winds. Tall, dense trees guide wind upward and over the downwind area for a distance up to 10 times the windbreak's height.

The calmest zone lies within one to two tree heights of the windbreak.

Site trees no closer than 10 feet to the house, but within 50 feet. Plant tall evergreens 10–20 feet apart in rows or clusters for maximum effect.

Selecting Trees for a Windbreak

• Trees must be evergreen with branches to the ground.
• Choose species well-adapted to your site — think native — so they grow tall and dense.
• Near buildings, select trees with strong wood to prevent storm damage. Plan for a certified arborist to maintain health and longevity.

Evergreen Trees to Consider

• Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens, zones 2–7)
• Alaska cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis, zones 4–8)
• White fir (Abies concolor, zones 4–7)
• American arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis, zones 3–8)

For drier climates: Eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana, zones 2–9), pinyon pine (Pinus cembroides var. edulis, zones 4–9), or Arizona cypress (Cupressus arizonica, zones 7–9).

Interplanting evergreens with large shrubs and ornamental trees lets windbreaks double as attractive privacy screens and noise barriers. Adding deciduous plants broadens wildlife habitat appeal — choose species with colorful, nectar-rich flowers and fruit.

Consider windbreaks for outdoor living spaces too — even summer-dominated areas. Swimming and dining are more enjoyable in calm settings.

Reduced wind velocity also conserves water by minimizing evaporation and oversplash in fountains, waterfalls, pools, and ponds.

Whether large or small, an evergreen windbreak helps you maximize your outdoor environment and, in time, save money and heating fuel.