820-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 13,1990
Tree Windbreaks Help
Reduce Winter Fuel Bills
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA
(Centre Co.) Homeowners who
are turning blue from rising winter
heating bills may want to start
planning where to plant a tree
windbreak to lower future energy
costs.
Dr. Gordon Heisler, Penn State
adjunct professor of forest resour
ces and research forest meteorolo
gist with the Northeastern Forest
Experiment Station of the U.S.
Forest Service, has conducted
research to determine the effect
trees have on houses and other
buildings. He and Dr. David
DeWalle, Penn State professor of
forest hydrology, have found that
tree windbreaks typically can save
10 to 12 percent or more of the
energy used to heat a home.
“Other studies have found sav
ings as high as 40 percent, though
that figure may be a bit optimistic
for the average home,” said Hei
sler. “However, it’s clear that a
well-planned windbreak can
reduce wind velocity and heat loss
while beautifying a yard at the
same time.”
To grow a winter windbreak,
Heisler suggests planting a row of
coniferous trees on the side of the
house exposed to prevailing wint
er winds. “In most of the United
States, these winds come from the
north and west, so windbreaks
usually are most effective on these
sides of a house.”
Nearby hills and mountains can
cause variations in weather pat
terns, and Heisler recommends
noting the direction of prevailing
winter winds before planting. He
also suggests contacting weather
services or airports to gain similar
information.
Heisler also said the National
Climatic Center in Ashville, North
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Carolina, can provide interested
individuals with prevailing wind
patterns for particular areas. The
center can be reached at (704)
259-0682.
“Though savings increase as
the protected perimeter increases,
just a few well-planned conifers
. will make a difference to a house
that’s currently exposed,” he said.
“They should be planted about 50
feet on the east and west sides of
the house. On the north side, clos
er windbreaks will be more effi
cient. On the south side, wind
breaks should be far enough from
the house to allow winter sunlight
to reach it”
The researchers note that any
conifer will provide adequate pro
tection from winds. “First, check
which species grow best in your
areas,” said Heisler. “In general,
choose fast-growing, visually
dense species with stiff branches.
Norway, White, and Colorado
blue spruce are among the best
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windbreak trees.
“Blue spruce is perhaps the
densest, but it grows more slowly
than the other varieties. Fast
growing trees will begin saving
fuel costs more quickly. Pine and
spruce should be planted about six
feet apart and cedar and arborvitae
should be about three feet apart.
Planting trees farther apart
reduces their effectiveness for
blocking wind.”
Heisler said that a single row of
dense conifers will provide an
adequate windbreak, although
efficiency may increase with 1 to
4 added rows. Generally, 1 or 2
rows is most cost-effective.
Lower branches should not be
pruned, for this can increase wind
speed near the ground rather than
reduce it. Homeowners also
should avoid planting windbreaks
directly upwind of driveways and
sidewalks to avoid nuisance snow
drifts.
Finally, homeowners should
consider a windbreak’s effects on
summer weather. “If your home is
not air conditioned, don’t block
the direction most of the summer
breezes come from,’’ said Heisler.
mwmmowk* «mhh» *»»•
The CPP series of mounted models en
ables you to turn short and fast... to trans
port easily, utilizing your tractor’s hydraulic
system. One universal hitch accommodates
Category II or 111 tractors with three-point
hitch or Quick Coupler. Eight widths from
7 to 16 feet. CPP models are equipped
with either 1 ”x2”x26” shanks or I V* "x2”x
36” shanks. The CPP-11, shown above, is
equipped with spring mounted shanks,
regular reversible chisel points and optional
gauge wheels.
CONTACT YOUR BRILLIO
PENNBYI
ADAMSTOWN EQUIP., INC.
Box 456,
Adamatown
MILLER EQUIP. CO.
Rt. 1
Bachtelavilla
IVAN J. ZOOK FARM EQUIPMENT
Box S, Stsr Rout*
Belleville
C.H. RINEHIMER It SONS
RD 1, Berwick .
GUTSHALIS, INC.
Rt. 34, 1 201 Spring Rd.
Carlisle
WENNER FORD TRACTOR CB H OOBER A SON QRUMELU FARM SERVICE
Route 21oz Intercourse Robert Fulton Highway
Concordville Querryvllle
LANDIS BROTHERS, INC.
GEORGE N. GROSS, INC. 1305 Manheim Pile* WALTEMYER'S S I S INC,
5261 Davidaburg Road Lancaatar RD #3, Box 43-B
Dov,r Rod Lion
GEORGE V. BEI PIE
Vanßuren Road
Eaaton
MES9QK FARM EQUIPMENT CO.
Rt. 233, Rheeme Exit
. Elixsbethiown
CHISEL PLOWS
MEYER’S IMPLEMENTS, INC.
400 N. Atrim Way
Graancaatla
JAM MACHINERY C(X
RR 3. Box 147
Graenaburg
SWBGARD BROS.
RD #3, Box 13
Halifax
SHARTLESVILLE FARM SERVICE PEOPLES SALK 4 SERVICE
HD #I,OOX 1382 o,kl * nd M,ll »
Hamburg
FINCH SERVICES
HANOVER, INC.
SIS Frederick Street
Hanover
UMBERGER'S OF FONTANA
RD #4, Box 132
Lebanon
GUTSHALL’S, INC.
RO 2, Rt. 250 Wool
Loyovillo
Crops, Dairy Days Feature
Important Farm Topics
The Tri-County Dairy/Crops
Fair for Clearfield, Elk, and Jef
ferson counties will be held on
January 24, 1990 at the Ramada
Inn in Dußois. The day-long pro
gram will begin at 9:00 a.m. with
registration. There is a $6.50
registration fee, which includes
lunch.
There will be several businesses
setting up displays of their ser
vices for farmers. Time is built
into the program for farmers to
leant more about the services
offered.
The program begins at 9:30
a.m. and concludes at 4:00 p.m.
Speakers will include Steve
Spencer, Penn State Dairy Exten
sion, discussing milking equip
ment and mastitis; Dennis Calvin,
Penn State Entomology Depart
To store a dust mop, hang it up. Resting the mop head
on the floor will mat it.
IRIIvhI IJErl#
The Briliion 2-bar Chisel Plow was design
ed for medium horsepower tractors in the
40-75 h.p. range. The frame accommodates
either five or seven 1”x2”x26” shanks. Two
types of ground working points are avail
able: chisel points for fast, easy penetra
tion and reduced draft or twisted shovels
that roll the soil and mix it with field trash.
Mounting is for Category II tractors, 3-point
hitch or Quick Coupler.
DEALER FOR DETAILS:
NX FUCKER A SONS, INC
Maxatawny
CLUGSTON FARM EQUIPMENT
HCR 60 - Box 22
Naadmora
AB.C. GROFF, INC.
110 S. Railroad Avenua
New Holland
PIKEVILLE EQUIPMENT, INC
Oley
ANGELO'S FARM EQUIPMENT
RD #1 • Box 303
Parryopolio
SUMMIT MACHINERY, INC.
PO Box 32S
Somoraot
CHARLES SNYDER MC.
RD #3
Tomaqua
merit, discussing insect problems
in field crops; John Yocum, Penn
State Agronomy Department, will
discuss the growing of soybeans
and weed control in field crops;
Susan DuFour, county extension
agent, will discuss the issue of
BST; and Dave Gordon, multi
county Extension agent, will dis-
cuss pesticides in water and the
testing for these substances. The
concurrent program this year for
women is “Stress- Tapping Your
Resources.” It will be presented
by Nancy Covert, county exten-
sion director.
Pre registration must be made
by Wednesday, January 17,1990.
To register or receive further
information, contact the Clearfield
County Cooperative Extension
office.
M.S. YEARSLEY A SONS
West Chester
DEERFIELD AO A TURF
CENTER, INC.
RD 2 Box 212
Wstsontown, PA 17777
FOSTER EQUIPMENT SALES
Elmar
AG INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT CALDWELL TRACTOR 4
1207 Telegraph Road EQUIPMENT
Rlaing Sun 400 US Route 46W
Fairfield
MARYLAND
WALTER G. COALE.INC.
2849-53 Church villa Rd.
Churchvilla
RNCH SERVICES
HANOVER, INC.
515 Fradarick Straat
Hanovar
ON THE MOVE.. IN THE 90 a
HEW JERSEY
LESUE FOGG
RD #3, Box 179
Bridgeton
REED BROTHERS EQUIPMENI
Petticost Bridge Rd.
Columbue
PONIATOWSKI BROS
EQUIPMENT CO.
Routa 31 8 Church SL
Flamington
SHORE TRACTOR CO.
RD #1 • Rt 9
Fraahold
FRANK RYMAN A SONS
Waahington