As Thanksgiving approached this year we’ve thought long and hard about what we’re thankful for as a company. Immediately, we knew our customers and employees were on our list of things we’re thankful for but digging deeper we found something that should be on everyone’s list this thanksgiving and is something we wouldn’t succeed without: trees. Now some homeowners might be hesitant to put trees on their list of things the thankful for so we’re here to make our case for being thankful for trees.
1. 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. Maybe consider a walk outdoors after thanksgiving dinner this year; it might be just what the doctor ordered.
2. 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.
3. Trees Provide Food
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we cannot overlook the tasty treats that trees provide. Just think, without trees you wouldn’t be able to have your apple pie or peach cobbler this thanksgiving. Other foods gifted to us by trees included pear, apricots, cherries, plums, oranges, lemons, limes, olives, cinnamon, pomegranate, almonds, cashews, and maple syrup just to name a few.
4. Trees Add Value
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 Universe study found that homeowners get a 100% or more return on their landscape investments.
5. Trees Stimulate The Economy
Many newer retail developments are starting to incorporate trees, shrubs, and green spaces to their shopping districts. As consumers, we enjoy these green areas but most of us don’t realize the addition of trees and shrubs are calculated choices that increase the developer’s return on investment.
Research by the National Arbor Day Foundation shows that commercial retail areas that have trees and green spaces are more attractive to consumers. Shoppers are even willing to spend 9%-12% more on average, travel a greater distance, and spend more time once they arrive in retail districts that have healthy trees and shrubs.
6. Trees Improve Our Soil Conditions
When most people think about tree benefits they look to the sky and think about air quality but trees also greatly improve soil conditions. Trees not only slow down soil erosion but filter sewage, clean roadside spills, filter water runoff, and reduce the effects of animal waste
7. Trees Keep Our Air Clean
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 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, pollen, and smoke from the air.
8. 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.
9. Trees Protect Our Privacy
Not only do trees block out noise but they help create visual privacy as well. Trees placed around the perimeter of yards provide natural privacy screens that can separate our outdoor living spaces and create private retreats. Without trees, our outdoor spaces would lack privacy and be surrounded by cement walls and fencing.
10. Trees Are Aesthetically Pleasing
Right now trees are especially beautiful, lighting up our sky with colorful leaves. But even year round, trees add beauty to our landscape and brighten up our environments. Trees make our parks and public spaces beautiful and can add aesthetic appeal to your yards and gardens.
11. Trees Make Communities
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.
