Below freezing temperatures and wind chills in the single digits caused many in the area to rush from one place to another.
The wind out of the north at times seemed to be piercing layers and chilling to the bone.
This weather got a few planning on windbreaks.
Windbreaks are plantings of single or multiple rows of trees or shrubs to aid in wind protection, energy saving and living screens.
Properly planted windbreaks can save up to 10 to 15 percent on a winter heating bill by trapping some warmer air in between the windbreak and exposure of the home.
Windbreaks are a long term investment and for the most part can add an aesthetic value along with a privacy screen.
Careful considerations should be made when selecting the plant material to be used.
Some areas are large enough to plant multiple rows of evergreen trees on the upwind side followed by a row of shrubs on the downwind side while some may only be able to plant a single row of shrubs.
Take into consideration the size of the area and the budget to be spent.
Be sure to mix in different species in case of disease and pest issues that could wipe out a stand of the same tree.
Plants that are initially planted too close together could be stunted while those that were planted too far apart will leave gaps in the screen reducing the effectiveness.
There are lots of things to consider before planting and a lot of organizations that are willing to help answer some of those questions.
Think about how nice walking to your car would be with a wall blocking the wind?
