Living in Central Texas, we’re surrounded by beautiful trees and landscapes. Whether you’re a homeowner, property manager, or nature enthusiast, you may have considered planting a tree on your property but haven’t taken the step to do so (yet!). Trees can provide an abundance of benefits. By the end of this blog, you’ll understand the top 10 benefits of planting a tree.
Planting a Tree Has an Environmental Impact
You’d be amazed by the superhero capabilities of trees that we don’t physically see.
Trees are nature’s air filters, using the pores on their leaves to remove air pollutants and various greenhouse gasses from the air. While carbon dioxide (CO2) is a natural greenhouse gas at the atmospheric level, there has been an increase in CO2 in the air from activities like burning coal, deforestation, and other industrial processes. The increase in CO2 has caused an increase in Earth’s average temperature, leading to the climate change we are seeing today.
The good news? Trees help remove CO2 from the air. According to the Arbor Day Foundation, a tree can absorb more than 48 pounds of CO2 from the atmosphere within one year!
Planting a Tree Improves Our Respiratory Health
As we discussed above, there are several air pollutants and gasses that exist in the air we breathe every day. Air pollutants can affect your health, leading to respiratory and major organ issues if inhaled frequently or in large amounts. Pollutants can also negatively impact other vegetation we rely on.
Luckily for us, trees play a key role in removing pollutants like carbon dioxide (CO2), ozone (O3), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and sulfur dioxide (SO2). Trees can also remove particulate matter like dust, smoke, and other tiny airborne particles that can be dangerous to our lungs. In addition to removing these pollutants, trees release clean oxygen for us to breathe.
Planting a Tree Can Provide Energy Efficiency
Strategically planted trees can provide energy efficiency to the buildings around them. The shade a tree provides can protect a building from direct sunlight in the hot summers, resulting in lower temperatures and less electricity being used. In the winter, trees act as a windbreak. This helps with maintaining heat within the building, leading to less heat usage.
Planting a Tree Will Increase Biodiversity
When you plant a tree you’re providing a potential home to numerous species of wildlife. Here in Austin, Texas, we have several species of birds that call Central Texas home year round like the Carolina Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Eastern Screech-Owl, and Northern Mockingbird, to name a few!
Planting a Tree Can Increase the Aesthetic of Your Property
When you approach a home, your eyes immediately go to the landscape. This first impression of a property can be visually impacting with beautiful trees. Trees are unique- they come in various shapes, sizes, colors, and textures. Planting a tree enhances the beauty and visual appeal of a landscape, adding character to the environment.
Planting a Tree Can Increase Your Property Value
In addition to creating a beautiful landscape, trees can increase your property value. According to the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers, one matured tree can have an appraised value of $1,000 to $10,000. Mature trees lining the streets of a neighborhood can raise the property value of each home, creating a stunning visual appeal.
Planting a Tree Has Psychological Impacts
Nature therapy is a real thing! There have been several scientific studies concluding that trees aid in reducing stress, anxiety, and even lowering blood pressure in people. Spending time outside around trees gives our cognitive brains a break and allows us to reset. In children with ADHD, outdoor activities around greenery have been shown to help with attention fatigue and related symptoms.
With that said, after you read the remainder of this blog, spend some time in your local park! We bet you’ll return home happier and healthier.
Planting a Tree Will Manage Water Effectively
Trees perform a wide array of functions that help regulate the flow and quality of our water.
When there are heavy rains, trees control water runoff by intercepting raindrops with their leaves. Large amounts of rainfall in a short period can cause flooding if the water is not absorbed into the soil. Trees intercepting raindrops with their leaves delay the water's descent to the ground, giving the soil more time to absorb water.
As the rain is absorbed into the soil, the tree roots act as a water filter removing pollutants and contaminants such as heavy metals. This water eventually flows into nearby streams, rivers, and groundwater reservoirs that we will later use or consume.
Planting a Tree Provides Community and Social Benefits
Did you have a giant oak tree in your yard growing up, or know someone who did? Often, some of our greatest memories involve being outdoors under a tree. Whether the tree shade is offering protection from the sun for a family barbecue gathering, a place to hang your hammock, or hosting a treehouse for your kids; trees provide a sense of community and belonging.
Speaking of community trees- do you know the history of the Treaty Oak right here in Austin?
Planting a Tree is a Long-Term Legacy
When you plant a tree, you’re making an investment into the future. Many trees can live for generations (like the Treaty Oak!) and leave a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy.
By our company name, you can probably tell that we believe leaving a legacy is important!
Planting a Tree Has Many Benefits
Trees are true marvels, and by now, you've learned just how remarkable their influence can be. From their role in combating climate change, enhancing energy efficiency, fostering biodiversity, and providing a sense of community, trees offer a variety of benefits that extend far beyond the branches and leaves.
If you're eager to learn more about the incredible advantages of planting a tree, or if you're considering adding a tree to your own outdoor space, we're here to assist! At Legacy Tree Trimming, we're not just passionate about trees; we're dedicated to sharing our knowledge. Together we can preserve Austin’s tree legacy.
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