Which feature makes a shrub an effective windbreak?

Which feature makes a shrub an effective windbreak?

• A. How it looks against the sky
• B. How it is trimmed
• C. The shininess of leaves
• D. Broad leaves and thick foliage

Answer: (D)

Windbreaks slow and block wind by intercepting and disrupting flow with dense vegetation. Broad leaves with thick foliage provide a large leaf area and high density, creating more drag and turbulence that reduce wind speed over a wide area. This combination is what protects soil, plants, and structures from drying and damage. Visual appearance, trimming habit, or leaf shininess don’t influence the wind-blocking capability in the same way; they don’t add the needed leaf area or density to effectively slow the wind.

Windbreaks slow and block wind by intercepting and disrupting flow with dense vegetation. Broad leaves with thick foliage provide a large leaf area and high density, creating more drag and turbulence that reduce wind speed over a wide area. This combination is what protects soil, plants, and structures from drying and damage. Visual appearance, trimming habit, or leaf shininess don’t influence the wind-blocking capability in the same way; they don’t add the needed leaf area or density to effectively slow the wind.