Did you know, a landscape that includes healthy trees adds 10% on average to your home’s value?
The real-estate bonus is just one fruitful attribute of trees on this Arbor Day Friday and any day when considering how to add beneficial shade and other features to your home, your community and an Earth that’s challenged to mitigate and adapt to global warming.
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According to the tree advisory board of Bowling Green, Ky., the value of a well-landscaped home with mature, healthy trees can be as much as 10% higher than a similar home with little or no landscaping. And, they caution, topping a tree — the abrupt sheering off of top branches — will reduce the value of your trees, and your home.
The group, whose role is to keep the community green, makes it clear there are also household benefits to being smart about trees.
Well-placed trees can reduce cooling costs in the summer, especially if you shade the south and west sides of your home. If deciduous trees are used, they’ll allow the sun to pass through and warm your home when they are bare-branched in the winter. That said, coniferous, or evergreen, trees on the north side of your home and shrubs around the foundation can act as a windbreak to reduce the cooling effects of winter winds and cut down on heating bills.
It’s important to think broader as well. Indirect economic benefits of trees can be achieved because as homes reduce energy use, utility companies will have less demand placed on the infrastructure, reducing operating costs which can be passed on to the consumer.
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Replacing trees can be expensive if not cared for properly and if root-heavy trees are not distanced far enough from structures; roots can infiltrate a home’s pipes. Trees can also be dangerous if power lines are ignored. The Arbor Day Foundation also stresses the importance of only using professionals, including arborists or other pros who know about the species, when it comes to trimming or tree removal. The organization says it’s common for potential scams to harm homeowners, especially after major storms or other damage, when nonlicensed individuals tend to crop up to make a quick buck for tree removal. The Arbor Day Foundation has guidance on the issue.
Beyound household benefits, there is the community and global payoff. This can be a valuable discussion kickoff to educate and involve the whole family in your tree landscaping decisions. Trees produce oxygen everyone gets to …….