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7 Reasons To Thank Your Trees This Thanksgiving!

Resources: Community

7 reasons to be thankful for trees

With Thanksgiving less than a week away, it’s time to start pondering what you’re thankful for this year. Friends, family, job opportunities often make the list but we’d like to suggest adding a less common but very important item to your list this year, trees. Most homeowners have probably never thought about being thankful for their trees but these silent, beautiful plants provide a lot of services and benefits to us. Below are just a few reasons to thank your trees this Thanksgiving. 

1. Trees Increase Property Values

Real estate agents have known for a long time that properties with trees sell better than properties without any trees. Recently, research has confirmed this. Numerous studies of real estate and trees show that well-landscaped yards with mature trees and bushes not only fetch higher prices but they sell quicker than houses without trees and shrubs. On average landscaping, especially with mature trees, can increase property values as much as 20%. Even more importantly, Clemson University study found that homeowners get a 100% or more return on their landscape investments. For example, one 25 inch diameter Red Maple can increase your property value by $126.92 annually.

2. Trees Keep Us Healthy

According to studies as far back as the 1980’s viewing trees and interacting with nature boosts health and happiness. A 1984 study showed patients recovering from surgery in a room with a view of trees recovered quicker and required less pain medication than those without the view. Recent studies have even suggested a connection between trees and lower obesity, general health, immunity, morbidity, and mortality. And according to the US Forest Service, trees save 850 human lives and prevent 670,000 cases of acute respiratory symptoms each year as well. Because of these health benefits, trees save $6.8 billion in US Health Care Costs annually. Maybe consider a walk outdoors after thanksgiving dinner this year; it might be just what the doctor ordered.

3. Trees Help The Environment: They Clean The Air & Improve The Soil & Support Wildlife

This one may seem obvious to most, but it’s interesting to realizing just how much trees benefit our air quality. Common knowledge is that trees absorb carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide while releasing oxygen into the air. What most don’t know is that one large tree can supply a day’s supply of oxygen for four people as well as storing 13 pounds of carbon each year. But trees don’t stop there; they also help trap up to 75% of dust, ash, pollen, and smoke from the air. 

Trees also greatly improve soil conditions. They not only slow down soil erosion but filter sewage, clean roadside spills, filter water runoff, and reduce the effects of animal waste. This helps improve our drinking water, aquatic life, and the health of landscapes. 

They also help support local ecosystems. Birds and wildlife have come to depend on trees and shrubs for food and shelter. When there aren’t enough trees around, wildlife like birds, bees, and butterflies have trouble supporting themselves and their populations decline. 

4. Trees Reduce Violence 

According to the University of Washington, among minor crimes, there is less graffiti, vandalism, and littering in outdoor spaces with natural landscapes than in comparable plant-less spaces. Public housing buildings with greater amounts of vegetation have 52% fewer total crimes, 48% fewer property crimes, and 56% fewer violent crimes, including 25% fewer acts of domestic aggression and violence.

5. Trees Block Out Noise

Most people don’t think of trees as a way of mitigating sound but a well-placed tree can block out noise as much as 40 percent. This benefit of trees can be seen along highways where the trees help block car noises from reaching local neighborhoods. And within neighborhoods trees can help muffle the sounds of your noisy neighbors. If you live near a main road but don’t hear much traffic, you can thank trees for that. 

6. Trees Lower Energy Bills, Saving You Money. 

Trees are great at shading the sun in the summer and letting the sun through in the winter which can help your electricity and gas bills. By keeping your house cool in the summer and warm in the winter, trees can reduce your energy costs by 30%. If you want to optimize the amount of money you save on your energy bills try creating Windbreaks. Windbreaks are strategically placed conifer trees that create a wall against cold winter winds. By placing them on the north and northwest sides of your property you can save up to 30% on your heating costs. To further save, plant large deciduous trees on the east, west, and northwest sides of your home. This will create shade from the hot summer sun and reduce air conditioning costs by up to 35%. Want to know exactly how much money your tree saves you? Find out your tree’s species & diameter at breast height and then head over to http://www.treebenefits.com/calculator/.

7. Trees Bring Families and Communities Together. 

Trees lined streets are more likely to be jogged and walked on. And the shade of trees allows children and adults to have a cool place to play, relax, and mingle with their neighbors, thus developing neighborhoods into communities. Trees also bring families closer together. Researchers at the University of Illinois found that families living in areas surrounded by trees have fewer feelings of aggression towards family members and tend to feel more satisfied. 

These are just a few reasons to thank your trees this Thanksgiving. Is your favorite reason not listed here? Comment below with why you’re thankful for trees this year!

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Google Reviews

Grey Burkhart
Grey Burkhart
March 29, 2022.
Verified
Very professional review of our requirements and an accurate estimate. Showed up on time and were finished quickly. Cleaned up all of the debris and sawdust. Great job all around.
Dennis Bruns
Dennis Bruns
March 8, 2022.
Verified
We have used RTEC Treecare for several years. They do excellent work. Their staff is extremely knowledgeable and take great care in explaining the various options available for your particular situation. I highly recommend them.
Annette Iannucci
Annette Iannucci
February 23, 2022.
Verified
We have been using RTEC for years and were very pleased with the recent tree maintenance work they did for us. As always, we got good advice from their arborist Ben,. The crew that did the work is highly skilled, and they did a great job trimming our trees. They worked safely and efficiently, in addition to leaving the yard clean after they finished the work.
Susan Crawford
Susan Crawford
January 26, 2022.
Verified
RTEC was at my house today to removed a large Magnolia that was badly damaged by the recent snow. They did a fantastic job at a very reasonable price. They arrived right on time, worked efficiently and quickly and cleaned up so well it was hard to tell anything have been disturbed. Over the past several years, I have used RTEC for all the services I checked above, and have always been very pleased with their service and professionalism. I also appreciate that they are not eager to take down trees that don't need to come down. In this case, the damage was too extensive for the tree to recover.
Kenton Morgan
Kenton Morgan
January 20, 2022.
Verified
Once again, RTEC has done a great job. The team showed up right on time and performed all the work that we agreed to. They kept us informed as to progress, coordinated with us concerning our maple, and made recommendations concerning ongoing support for our trees. At the end of the day, they thoroughly cleaned up the debris and left our yard in pristine condition. WELL DONE.
Jean Kluttz
Jean Kluttz
January 3, 2022.
Verified
Not our first time but this time was tricky removal of a large dead tree leaning on a healthy tree. Quick response for estimate, good timing to removal, all clear and healthy tree still fine.
Jerry Haggin
Jerry Haggin
December 16, 2021.
Verified
Very good work while ensuring that I was aware of status of my work order and planned completion.
Mike Iger
Mike Iger
December 16, 2021.
Verified
David Roberts
David Roberts
December 15, 2021.
Verified
We’ve used RTEC for many years for tree maintenance and can’t say enough good things about their service. We use them for tree trimming and for regular treatments to maintain our trees’ health and deal with pests and prevent disease. Their arborist Ben has been especially helpful with advice. RTEC also been especially helpful in emergency situations, once coming to cable a massive, heritage oak in our yard right before a hurricane was about to hit. Highly recommend.
Travis Larson
Travis Larson
December 10, 2021.
Verified
RTEC did an excellent job onsite of removing dead branches from our 80+ year old trees, and trimming other growth too close to our home.
Google rating score: 4.8 of 5, based on 185 reviews.

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