How far should Fig trees and Grape plants be planted from the house? It is generally accepted, although not absolutely essential, that a fruit tree in hot, dry, and Mediterranean climates be deciduous, that is bare of leaves during the winter. While the shade provided by the foliage cools the house down during the summer, the absence of foliage allows the sun’s rays to warm the house in the winter. To be most effective, the tree’s canopy should rise above the house. This is not always desirable though, as dark, gloomy, claustrophobic conditions could be unintentionally created, while the height of the tree could be out of scale with the building. it is also inappropriate of course where solar energy units have been installed on the roof. In such circumstances, the shade tree should be planted far enough from the house so that it does not tower over it, yet be close enough so that the shadow from the hot afternoon sun does help to cool down the house, at least to some extent. So again it’s necessary to know the radius of the mature tree’s canopy. the tree should ideally be planted therefore on the south west side of the house. If an evergreen species is used, then it should be tall enough to allow the lower angle of the winter sun’s rays to warm the house somewhat.