Why Plant a Tree?
Trees not only beautify your home, they also provide you and your community with innumerable other benefits. Here are eight reasons supported by science that will surely convince you to plant a tree:
Trees offer innumerable benefits to you and your community
1. Saves You Money
Trees save you money by reducing your home's energy bills. A strategically placed tree will create shade on your home and reduce the need for air conditioning during the summer months, and―providing the tree is deciduous―lose its leaves in winter and allow the sun to warm your house. A tree with dense foliage that shades one fifth of a building can reduce summer energy consumption by approximately 10 percent, and savings continue to accrue as more of the structure is shaded. Conversely, strategically placed evergreens can act as a wind-breaker and reduce your heating costs in winter.
Trees save you money by reducing your home's energy bills. A strategically placed tree will create shade on your home and reduce the need for air conditioning during the summer months, and―providing the tree is deciduous―lose its leaves in winter and allow the sun to warm your house. A tree with dense foliage that shades one fifth of a building can reduce summer energy consumption by approximately 10 percent, and savings continue to accrue as more of the structure is shaded. Conversely, strategically placed evergreens can act as a wind-breaker and reduce your heating costs in winter.
Empirical studies and computer simulations have been done to determine energy savings caused by trees.
2. Decreases Pollution
Trees can remove gaseous pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and ozone from the air. These gases are taken up by stomata―small pores on the outer surface of the leaf―and enter the leaf where they react with the inner surface of the plant or mix with water to form acidic solutions. A large, healthy tree can remove up to 1.4 kilograms of air pollution annually.
|
3. Supports Wildlife
Hummingbirds, butterflies, treefrogs, and songbirds all rely on trees to live. Whether it is their seeds, their fruits, their leaves, or their flowers, trees feed a myriad of animals. Trees also provide the right materials and structure for animals to build nests and shelters. Additionally, trees increase the total surface area of your property―making the world bigger, so to speak―thereby creating more space for life. |
Black-and-White Warbler (Mniotilta varia), one of the many animals that rely on trees to live
|
4. Blocks Harmful UV Radiation
Trees not only reduce heat by shading the surrounding environment, they also protect your skin from the harmful ultra-violate (UV) radiation that causes skin cancer. In fact, shade from a single tree can reduce UV exposure by about 60 percent. Protection like sunscreen and hats is still required, but shading your yard with trees will help reduce unnecessary exposure to these dangerous rays while you and your family enjoy the summer days outdoors.
5. Faster Real Estate Sales
Many home-buyers find trees appealing and as a result properties with trees tend to stay on the market for fewer days. Who knows, a beautiful tree may be the deciding factor that gives you an edge over the competition when you decide to sell.
Trees not only reduce heat by shading the surrounding environment, they also protect your skin from the harmful ultra-violate (UV) radiation that causes skin cancer. In fact, shade from a single tree can reduce UV exposure by about 60 percent. Protection like sunscreen and hats is still required, but shading your yard with trees will help reduce unnecessary exposure to these dangerous rays while you and your family enjoy the summer days outdoors.
5. Faster Real Estate Sales
Many home-buyers find trees appealing and as a result properties with trees tend to stay on the market for fewer days. Who knows, a beautiful tree may be the deciding factor that gives you an edge over the competition when you decide to sell.
|
6. Increases Health and Well-being
More and more studies are finding links between trees and human health. Studies are showing that an increase in tree cover leads to positive health outcomes whereas a reduction in the number of trees has deleterious effects. These include things such as infant birth weights, recovery rates from hospitalization, and cardiovascular health. Obviously, this is a complex subject at the limit of human knowledge, but it is safe to say that proximity to trees is good for you. |
Trees increase health and well-being
|
7. Mitigates the Effects of Climate Change
Trees play a pivotal role in the mitigation of global climate change. As trees photosynthesis they remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air, store the carbon (C) in their biomass, and release oxygen (O2) into the air. Although trees vary greatly in their ability to sequester carbon, a tree can absorb between 10 to 50 kilograms of CO2 per year. Along with reducing unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions, scientists agree that planting trees and conserving them is vital if we hope to overcome the current climate challenges.
Trees play a pivotal role in the mitigation of global climate change. As trees photosynthesis they remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air, store the carbon (C) in their biomass, and release oxygen (O2) into the air. Although trees vary greatly in their ability to sequester carbon, a tree can absorb between 10 to 50 kilograms of CO2 per year. Along with reducing unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions, scientists agree that planting trees and conserving them is vital if we hope to overcome the current climate challenges.
|
8. Lead to Capital Gains
Ecology and economy are not at odds with one another, and a properly planted tree can significantly increase the value of your home. To quantify this, a study demonstrated that the presence of trees on a property can augment the selling price by 1.7 to 3.2 percent. If the whole neighborhood has trees, property values can increase even more! Trees are literally a naturally-growing investment! |
A well-planted tree can lead to capital gains
|
Ready to plant a tree? Contact us
Sources:
Donovan, G.H. and Butry, D.T., 2010. Trees in the city: Valuing street trees in Portland, Oregon. Landscape and urban planning, 94(2), pp.77-83.
Donovan, G.H., Michael, Y.L., Butry, D.T., Sullivan, A.D. and Chase, J.M., 2011. Urban trees and the risk of poor birth outcomes. Health & place, 17(1), pp.390-393.
Donovan, G.H., Michael, Y.L., Gatziolis, D., Prestemon, J.P. and Whitsel, E.A., 2015. Is tree loss associated with cardiovascular-disease risk in the Women's Health Initiative? A natural experiment. Health & place, 36, pp.1-7.
Hwang, W.H., Wiseman, P.E. and Thomas, V.A., 2015. Tree planting configuration influences shade on residential structures in four US cities. Arboriculture and Urban Forestry, 41(4), pp.208-222.
Kovacs, K.F., Haight, R.G., Jung, S., Locke, D.H. and O'Neil-Dunne, J., 2013. The marginal cost of carbon abatement from planting street trees in New York City. Ecological economics, 95, pp.1-10.
Mcpherson, E.G., Kendall, A. and Albers, S., 2015. Million Trees Los Angeles: Carbon dioxide sink or source?. In In M. Johnston; G. Perceival, eds. Proceedings of the Urban Trees Research Conference" Trees, People and the Built Environment II." Edgbaston, UK: University of Birmingham: 7-19. (pp. 7-19).
Nowak, D.J., 2002. The effects of urban trees on air quality. USDA Forest Service, pp.96-102.
Nowak, D. and Heisler, G., 2010. Air quality effects of urban trees and parks. Research Series Monograph. Ashburn, VA: National Recreation and Parks Association Research Series Monograph. 44 p., pp.1-44.
Pandit, R. and Laband, D.N., 2010. Energy savings from tree shade. Ecological Economics, 69(6), pp.1324-1329.
Richards, J., 2020. Full Value: Proven Methods to Price and Sell Your Home for Maximum Profit. Greenleaf Book Group.
Siriwardena, S.D., Boyle, K.J., Holmes, T.P. and Wiseman, P.E., 2016. The implicit value of tree cover in the US: A meta-analysis of hedonic property value studies. Ecological Economics, 128, pp.68-76.
Stigarll, A. and Elam, E., 2009. Impact of improved landscape quality and tree cover on the price of single-family homes. Journal of Environmental Horticulture, 27(1), pp.24-30.
Ulrich, R., 1984. View through a window may influence recovery. Science, 224(4647), pp.224-225.
Zhao, Q., Wentz, E.A. and Murray, A.T., 2017. Tree shade coverage optimization in an urban residential environment. Building and Environment, 115, pp.269-280.
Donovan, G.H. and Butry, D.T., 2010. Trees in the city: Valuing street trees in Portland, Oregon. Landscape and urban planning, 94(2), pp.77-83.
Donovan, G.H., Michael, Y.L., Butry, D.T., Sullivan, A.D. and Chase, J.M., 2011. Urban trees and the risk of poor birth outcomes. Health & place, 17(1), pp.390-393.
Donovan, G.H., Michael, Y.L., Gatziolis, D., Prestemon, J.P. and Whitsel, E.A., 2015. Is tree loss associated with cardiovascular-disease risk in the Women's Health Initiative? A natural experiment. Health & place, 36, pp.1-7.
Hwang, W.H., Wiseman, P.E. and Thomas, V.A., 2015. Tree planting configuration influences shade on residential structures in four US cities. Arboriculture and Urban Forestry, 41(4), pp.208-222.
Kovacs, K.F., Haight, R.G., Jung, S., Locke, D.H. and O'Neil-Dunne, J., 2013. The marginal cost of carbon abatement from planting street trees in New York City. Ecological economics, 95, pp.1-10.
Mcpherson, E.G., Kendall, A. and Albers, S., 2015. Million Trees Los Angeles: Carbon dioxide sink or source?. In In M. Johnston; G. Perceival, eds. Proceedings of the Urban Trees Research Conference" Trees, People and the Built Environment II." Edgbaston, UK: University of Birmingham: 7-19. (pp. 7-19).
Nowak, D.J., 2002. The effects of urban trees on air quality. USDA Forest Service, pp.96-102.
Nowak, D. and Heisler, G., 2010. Air quality effects of urban trees and parks. Research Series Monograph. Ashburn, VA: National Recreation and Parks Association Research Series Monograph. 44 p., pp.1-44.
Pandit, R. and Laband, D.N., 2010. Energy savings from tree shade. Ecological Economics, 69(6), pp.1324-1329.
Richards, J., 2020. Full Value: Proven Methods to Price and Sell Your Home for Maximum Profit. Greenleaf Book Group.
Siriwardena, S.D., Boyle, K.J., Holmes, T.P. and Wiseman, P.E., 2016. The implicit value of tree cover in the US: A meta-analysis of hedonic property value studies. Ecological Economics, 128, pp.68-76.
Stigarll, A. and Elam, E., 2009. Impact of improved landscape quality and tree cover on the price of single-family homes. Journal of Environmental Horticulture, 27(1), pp.24-30.
Ulrich, R., 1984. View through a window may influence recovery. Science, 224(4647), pp.224-225.
Zhao, Q., Wentz, E.A. and Murray, A.T., 2017. Tree shade coverage optimization in an urban residential environment. Building and Environment, 115, pp.269-280.