Top 5 Benefits of Trees
Top 5 Benefits of Trees
Sure, trees look beautiful, and we’ve probably all enjoyed a lovely walk through a forest. But their benefits go far beyond that. Trees are like best friends or model employees – they give so much and ask little in return. Here are the top 5 benefits of trees:
Energy Savings
Did you know that trees can help lower your energy bills? During those chilly winter months, trees do us a great service by blocking strong winds from reaching our home, leading to reduced heating costs to the tune of 25% less. And in the summertime, they offer shade that keeps your house cool. To achieve the same benefit without that tree you’d need to employ ten room-sized air conditioners – not friendly for your wallet!
Flood Protection and Lower Taxes
Mother Nature can be a force to be reckoned with and water runoff can lead to flooding and property damage. Once again trees are on our side!. They intercept the runoff and reduce the severity of floods. A forest’s roots and rich organic layers also help by slowing down the flow of water, encouraging it to gradually seep into ground – this directly reduces erosion and helps you hold on to your land and soil.
Added Property Value
Imagine streets lined with leafy green trees. Picture stunning forest views on a country property. These are some of the characteristics buyers are looking for in a property, and they may be willing to pay for the realization of their vision. Trees can also improve soil conditions on rural properties, and if you live near a stream or a river, trees and shrubs can help prevent land erosion.
Reduced Stress and Improved Health
We’ve heard about the benefits of being outside in nature – it’s good for the body and the mind. The Japanese even have a special term for being surrounded by nature: Shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing”. But you don’t have to venture outside to gain the benefits – even looking at trees from a window is proven to reduce stress, anxiety and improve wellbeing.
Trees and shrubs, like all plants, also help to protect us from pollutants by acting as natural filters. Harmful heavy metals, nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus on our land surfaces can contaminate our water, but the roots of shrubs intercept these pollutants. This is why it is especially important to plant shrubs on land that borders water – this is called the riparian zone.
Necessary Part of a Healthy Environment
Trees and shrubs improve soil and water conservation, store carbon, moderate local climate by providing shade, regulate temperature extremes, increase wildlife habitat and improve the land’s capacity to adapt to climate change. These are all benefits forests and shrubs offer the environment and in turn, us.
The natural services that trees provide, called ecological services, would be very expensive to engineer and undertake ourselves so once again we are saving money
Ready to plant trees? We can help!
We can help you establish a new forest, connect or enlarge your existing forest, or establish a windbreak. Our team of experts will help you every step of the way, from funding and planning to planting and tending your new forest. We may cover between 50 and 90%!
Who to Contact
Paul Cottenden
Forest Technician
✆ 905-895-1281
✆ 1-800-465-0437 Toll free
✉ p.cottenden@LSRCA.on.ca