13 Reasons to Plant a Tree

Here are the 13 reasons to plant a tree.

1. Trees provide oxygen. In one season a mature tree produces the same amount of oxygen that 10 people inhale in a year.

2. Trees increase property value. As a tree matures the value of the property increases. On average trees can increase the value of a property by 15 percent.

3. Trees act as barriers. Trees can reduce the noise of nearby roads, railways, or airports. They can also act as a barrier between you and that not-so-perfect neighbor. Trees can provide a wall to keep them out, or to block your view from their messy unkempt yard.

4. Trees remove pollutants in the air therefore improving air quality. They absorb CO2 and therefore reduce the “greenhouse effect” by allowing the heat to be released into space instead of being trapped by these gases. If every American planted one tree, the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere would be reduced by one billion pounds annually. Trees also remove other pollutants like Sulfur Dioxide, Ozone, Nitrogen Oxides, and Particulates.

City	Pounds of pollutants removed annually by trees	Annual value of trees with respect to air pollution
Washington, DC	878,000	$2.1 million
Atlanta, GA Metro Area	19,000,000	$47 million
Portland, OR Metro Area	2,000,000	$4.8 million
Denver, CO Metro Area	1,100,000	$2.6 million

5. Trees provide shade & ultimately lower energy costs. Strategically placed trees produce enough shade to reduce air conditioning costs by 50 percent. Trees also block winds and trap heat in the winter and therefore insulate your home from the cold. You should plant trees on the east and west sides of your house. Place them so that they are shading windows and doorways in order to have the largest impact on your air conditioning and heating bill.

6. Trees reduce stress by not only providing a comfortable temperature, but also providing aesthetic value. Studies show that trees can reduce stress in the workplace and also speed hospital patients’ recovery.

7. Trees provide a home for birds and other small animals. Certain animals prefer certain types of trees to make their home in. Therefore, each tree planted is potentially providing food and shelter for a certain species and in turn saving their lives. If you want to provide even more, place a bird feeder or squirrel feeder in your trees as well.

8. Trees reduce water pollution by absorbing chemicals and other pollutants in rain and water runoff. One medium-sized tree can filter over 2000 gallons of water each year and then return the clean water to the water cycle.

9. Trees reduce soil erosion by providing shelter from wind and rain. They use their roots to hold soil in place, and their branches reduce the impact of wind and rain on the soil. They also act as a reservoir for flooding as well as a barrier for debris.

10. Trees save water. The shade provided by trees slows evaporation of water from lawns and other plants and also increase atmospheric moisture. This reduces the amount of water needed to water your lawn and other plants.

11. Trees provide firewood for natural wood burning fireplaces, which are better for the environment than gas burning fireplaces. Gas-burning fireplaces use up natural gas or propane, which are not renewable resources. As long as a tree is planted for each tree removed for wood burning fireplaces, wood will continue to be a renewable resource. Also gas-burning fireplaces produce carbon monoxide, which, in high quantities, is toxic to both humans and animals.

12. Trees protect roads. They provide them with shade, reduce the impact of rain, sleet, and snow, and also act as a fence holding off certain amounts of snow and debris. This protects roads from needing as much maintenance work because of damage due to overheating or water pollution, and also makes the road safer in general.

13. It lasts a lifetime. This project is something you can do with your kids and, if the tree is well maintained, it will last for their entire lifetime. They can grow with it, cherish it, and someday share it with their own children.