Читать книгу Landscaping with Trees in the Midwest - Scott A. Zanon - Страница 8

Preface

to the Expanded Edition

IT HAS BEEN five years since the release of Desirable Trees for the Midwest: 50 for the Home Landscape and Larger Properties. I felt it was time to offer a somewhat different, expanded version with photographs, both new and a few old; 15 more trees to consider; and, of course, some new cultivars available in the trade.

In this edition, the vast majority of the color photographs are my own. From the many interactions I have had through book signings and speaking engagements, it is very evident that consumers greatly appreciate seeing the trees in their various forms throughout the growing seasons. Why pay a large amount of money for a tree without knowing or being able to see what it looks like in progressing stages of the year? I took the photographs using a Panasonic Lumix digital camera along with an Apple iPhone.

There are 15 more trees recommended in this edition for the Midwest. Because of the warmer temperature shifts in our climate, more trees were added. These trees still are site specific, each requiring its particular shade, protection, and/or watering needs.

That people from homeowners to green industry professionals actually use the book as a reference has been very rewarding to me. Whether a tree is selected to be grown for shade, fall color, ornamental bark, or spring flowering, or for another purpose, this book will give you the ability to visualize the tree and read about its culture before it is planted. Gone are the days of only looking at illustrations and/or black and white photographs.

From a “green” perspective, trees are a very important part of the environment, one that helps to beautify communities and neighborhoods. A well-designed landscape not only can add beauty to your property but also can reduce your cooling and heating costs. Carefully positioned trees can save up to 25 percent of the energy a typical household uses. Research shows that summer daytime air temperatures can be three to six degrees cooler in tree-shaded neighborhoods than in treeless areas.

Trees can help a home be more energy efficient by providing shade, reflecting heat, and blocking those cold winter winds. Deciduous shade trees planted to the south and west will help keep your home cool in the summer and allow sun to shine through the windows in the winter. They also cool sidewalks and driveways that reflect heat. Planting evergreen trees to the north and west can block winter winds, improving energy efficiency.

The emerald ash borer continues to wreak its havoc across the Midwestern parts of the United States. The effects are devastating. This book offers solid replacement alternatives for those unfortunate enough to lose an ash tree.

This edition is published in a very nice compact 7 x 10-inch paperback form. Compared to the first edition, costs have been decreased, enabling, I hope, more readers to get this book into their hands.

Thank you for your ongoing support and enthusiasm.