Written by Savannah Sher and published on https://www.bobvila.com/.
Though trees certainly add natural beauty to any outdoor space, there are a variety of practical advantages to having an appealing wooded property. Planting trees in your yard is a long-term investment that can improve your local ecosystem and your community’s air quality, and help regulate global pollution levels. Read on to learn more about the positive effects that trees have on your health, budget, and property value.
5 Clever Reasons to Plant a Tree on Your Property
Though Earth Day and Arbor Day are good reminders about how important trees are to the environment, any day is a good day to plant a sapling on your property. Trees can help improve your health, increase property value, lower energy costs, and more.
Though trees certainly add natural beauty to any outdoor space, there are a variety of practical advantages to having an appealing wooded property. Planting trees in your yard is a long-term investment that can improve your local ecosystem and your community’s air quality, and help regulate global pollution levels. Read on to learn more about the positive effects that trees have on your health, budget, and property value.
Increased Property Value
Landscaping undoubtedly increases a home’s curb appeal, but it turns out that trees can also significantly affect a home’s value. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), healthy, mature trees add 10 percent to your property’s value.
Energy Savings
Planting trees can result in major utility savings in the long run. According to the Arbor Day Foundation, mature trees’ cooling effect can reduce air conditioning consumption by 30 percent. Depending on your climate, trees can be used to maximize shade, deflect cold winds, channel breezes, or magnify the sun’s warming effects. The United States Department of Energy estimates that three strategically placed trees can save a household between $100 and $250 per year in energy costs.
Improved Air Quality
Trees reduce pollution and even remove fossil fuel emissions from the atmosphere. In fact, trees reduced 17.4 million tonnes (about 19.2 million U.S. tons) of air pollution in the United States in 2010. While fossil fuel emissions reduction is important on national and global scales, it can also directly impact your home’s air quality. A 2013 study from the University of Lancaster in the United Kingdom showed that roadside trees reduced air pollution in nearby buildings by more than 50 percent.
Better Mental Health
Not only do trees positively affect our physical health, they can also improve our mental health. A large-scale Australian study found that residents of areas with at least a 30 percent tree canopy had a 31 percent lower risk of psychological distress than those living in areas with fewer trees. A study from Chungbuk National University in South Korea revealed that office workers who could see trees from their windows reported lower stress levels and higher job satisfaction levels.
Sustained Wildlife
Trees act as habitats for birds, squirrels, and other wildlife, simultaneously providing both food and shelter. Plant evergreen trees to create a year-round habitat for your local wildlife. Many trees attract pollinators, like bees, which in turn helps global ecosystems. Plant maples, fruit trees, linden, and hawthorn trees to help sustain the global bee population.
Original post here https://www.bobvila.com/articles/reasons-to-plant-a-tree-on-your-property/.
