This Arbor Day, we wanted to highlight some reasons why trees are so important in every environment. With the many social, environmental, and economic benefits which trees provide, there is no reason not to go out and buy a tree!!
Create Shade
Have you ever been to the park on a hot summer day and enjoyed the refreshing shade of one of the trees towering overhead? Or have you ever sat on your back porch in the heat of the day, protected and shielded by the tree in your yard? Trees are often planted for the shade that they provide, and while this may be a simple pleasure, it is also a very practical and useful purpose!
Reduce Your Energy Bill
Similarly, trees can help reduce the amount of energy used by shielding your house from the elements, whether that be the scorching summer sun or the frozen winter winds.
Planting deciduous trees on the south and west-facing sides of your home will help shade your house in the summer, taking a load off your air conditioning unit and helping to reduce your energy bill. And in the winter when you want to keep the heat in, deciduous trees (since they lose their leaves) will allow the sun to hit your home and warm it up, which will in turn help take some of the burden off your furnace during the cold months!
Additionally, planting evergreen trees and shrubs on the north-facing side of your house can help reduce the effects of the cold winter wind by acting as a sort of windbreak, insulating your home when you need it the most!
Provide Privacy
Trees provide a great barrier against many unwanted sights and sounds. Whether your house faces a busy road, or you basically share a backyard with your neighbors, planting trees will bring you peace and privacy.
Bird Habitats
In addition to blocking unwanted views, trees can also bring about some very pleasurable and desirable views too! Many different kinds of wildlife are attracted to and even dependent on trees, as they serve as home, protection, and sustenance for many different animals. So if you enjoy bird watching, consider planting a tree or two!
Attract Pollinators
Trees not only serve as a habitat for birds and other wildlife, but they can also attract bees, butterflies, and other essential pollinators! Many types of flowering trees or trees that produce fruit are wonderful for attracting birds and insects that are so important to our environment!
Grow Food
Speaking of the importance of pollinators...without them, we wouldn't have naturally grown produce!! If you have never enjoyed a fresh-picked peach straight out of your own backyard, or a cherry pie made from your very own harvest, you are definitely missing out. And the selection doesn't stop there! From apples and pears to plumbs, apricots, nectarines, and more, who wouldn't love being able to have fresh fruit sourced directly from their backyard!
Add Beauty
Trees add so much appeal to any space. Have you ever looked at a park full of trees, or driven down a street with trees lining either side and thought, "Wow, that's an ugly sight."? I didn't think so!
Increase Property Value
Given the natural beauty that trees bring, one can only imagine that this beauty, which can take years to cultivate, would add significant value to any property. The overall value of a home that has been well landscaped and includes mature, healthy trees can be up to 10% higher than a home that has little to no landscaping. So, invest in your property and plant some trees!
Improve Air Quality
Another major environmental benefit of trees is their air-purifying qualities. Trees are able to improve the air quality around us by filtering out harmful pollutants such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone, and more!
Bring Health and Happiness
After reading these nine reasons why trees are so awesome, who would deny the fact that trees make people happy? If you aren't convinced, studies have actually been done that prove this fact! Spending time around trees has been proven time and time again to reduce stress and anxiety. People who are sick or hospitalized have shown better results and quicker recoveries when exposed to trees and greenery, whether that is seeing trees out the window, or going for a daily walk near trees. Even children have been proven to remember what they are taught in school better when time outdoors in natural areas is incorporated into their daily routine.
We hope we have inspired you to plant some trees! If you are interested but aren't sure which variety would be best or where to plant, let us know! We have a team of tree specialists here at Bath Garden Center in Fort Collins, and we are ready to help you find the tree that is best suited to your space and needs. So come into our store or give us a call any time! 970-484-5022