Whether aware of it or not, all of us like to be around trees because they make life more pleasant.

We respond to the presence of trees beyond simply observing their beauty. We feel serene, peaceful, restful, and tranquil when around trees...we are “at home” there. In studies, hospital patients have been shown to recover from surgery more quickly when their hospital room offered a view of trees.

The stature, strength, and endurance of trees give them a cathedral-like quality. Because of their potential for long life, trees frequently are planted as living memorials. We often become personally attached to trees that we or those we love have planted.

Most trees in cities or communities are planted to provide beauty or shade. These are two excellent reasons for their use. Not only are trees a beautiful addition to any outdoor environment, strategically placed ones (on the west side of a home or building) can help to reduce cooling costs during the warm season.

The Benefits of Trees

Communal Benefits - Even though trees may be private property, their size often makes them part of the community as well. Communities where many trees exist feel more inviting and are asthetically more appealing. They provide background to and soften, compliment, or enhance the architecture.

Environmental Benefits - Trees alter the environment in which we live by moderating climate, improving air quality, conserving water, and harboring wildlife.

Climate control is obtained by moderating the effects of sun, wind, and rain. Radiant energy from the sun is absorbed or deflected by leaves on deciduous trees in the summer and is only filtered by branches of deciduous trees in winter. It's nice to have some shady refuge around during the hot days of summer. In winter, we value the sun’s radiant energy. Therefore, we should plant only small or deciduous trees on the south or east side of homes.

The root sytems of moistue-loving trees such as riverbirch and weeping willow help to soak up excess water in boggy areas of the yard or landscape.

Temperature in the vicinity of trees is cooler than that away from trees. The larger the tree, the greater the cooling. By using trees in the cities, planners are able to moderate the heat-island effect caused by pavement and buildings in commercial areas. The same thing goes for around your home.

Air quality can be improved through the planting of trees. Leaves filter the air we breathe by removing dust and other particulates. Rain then washes the pollutants to the ground. Leaves of trees also absorb carbon dioxide from the air to form carbohydrates that are used in the trees structure and function. In this process, leaves also absorb other air pollutants - such as ozone, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide - then giving off oxygen.

By planting trees, we return to a more natural, less artificial environment. Trees can create a wildlife habitat on your property, attracting birds and other wildlife by providing homes and sometimes food for them. Planting trees is an excellent way to restore natural harmony to the urban environment.

Economic Benefits - Trees have value and become more valuable as they grow larger. In addition to the economic benefits associated with energy costs, trees also substancially increase the value of your property as they grow larger. Trees are a wise investment of funds because landscaped homes are more valuable than nonlandscaped homes. Hybridizing in the modern day has helped to bring us trees that grow much faster than their parents did.

Heating costs can be reduced substancially when a home has a windbreak created by hedge and screen plantings using large growing evergreen shrubs or trees.

Color - Flowering trees bring color to your landscape in almost every season. In the South, tulip trees (Japanese magnolias) and Okame cherry are first to bloom in spring. Next comes redbuds, dogwoods and the other flowering cherries. Crape myrtles bloom and provide bountiful color during the summer months and are unrivaled in longevity of bloom (75-100 days). In fall, hybrid Maples such as Autumn Flame and Autumn Blaze set your landscape on fire with their red foliage display. The Gingko tree produces the most spectacular display of yellow you've ever seen on a tree. Many of the Faurieii hybrid crape myrtles have beautiful fall foliage in shades of maroon, orange, or red. Bald cypress and the evergreen cryptomeria 'Yoshino' show off in fall with their orange to rust foliage.

Texture - Riverbirch, elms, bald cypress, and many of the Fauriei hybrid crape myrtles bring winter interest to the landscape with their attractive shedding bark.

As you can see, there are many benefits of trees.

If you have any questions regarding trees, need more information or would like to place an order please feel free to call us at 678-677-5931 Steven Whatley - Sales manager

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