As youre driving down a tree-lined street it creates a distinctly different impact than a cityscape. Both visually and emotionally those trees reflect a sense of permanence and longevity for a neighborhood. And while its hard to put a firm value on trees, we can certainly measure it in various ways.
Psychological Impact
Since many potential home buyers often do drive-bys before attending an open house, trees can impact how quickly your house sells. Generally speaking people feel happier when they see trees. Aesthetically a well placed tree makes a house feel more inviting and welcoming. Interestingly enough studies conducted show that people who live near trees and green landscape are less prone to mental stress and illness, and when sick even recuperate faster! In short trees are good for what ails you.
Community Building
Trees are a great medium for a community building activity. Many a neighborhood has had tree planting parties on Earth Day for example. The trees remain long after as a standing reminder of improved cooperation and focus on environmental sanity.
Longevity
Trees live for a very long time. Trees planted around the times of specific historic events later become landmarks for that event. Imagine if you found a tree planted by a famous person 70 years ago, for example. That tree would have historic value for that reason alone. Additionally, most communities strive to protect their historic trees feeling that to tear one down is nearly criminal unless the tree poses a safety issue due to disease or natural disaster (like lightning strike).
Being Green
No, not green with envy unless your yard doesnt have any trees. Trees are fantastic for the environment. They help protect your yard from soil erosion, improve water distribution, and even cut down on noise from those pesky neighbors and local cars. Trees that are planted with the angle of the sun in mind can decrease the cost of air conditioning in the summer (hey, just turn off the switch and go sit under the tree!). The same shade youre enjoying also keeps your driveway and sidewalk cool, meaning they wont radiate heat and make the day feel even warmer.
What about cold days? Well its harder for heat from the earth to escape if theres a tree in the way. Have you ever noticed how the ground under a tree may show no signs of frost when the rest of the yard is white? If you put temperature-sensitive plants around a trees trunk it helps protect them.
Finally surrounding yourself with trees improves the areas air quality. Trees remove particulates from the air. Theyre absorbed in the process of photosynthesis, which also helps reduce carbon dioxide.
Mulch
The trees and bits of wood that fall out of trees land on the ground and add to making good, healthy soil. This natural mulch becomes a home to earthworms, who are hard at work keeping our soil aerated.
Water Absorption
Some trees like weeping willows help keep a plot from having too much ground water. Theyre ideal for wetland dwellings, houses at the bottom of a hill, etc.
Putting Dollar Values on it:
Having at least one tree on your property can improve its listing value by as much as 10 percent. When combined with other landscaping that figure can double. This figure is based on the fact that villages, cities, and towns all put monetary value on trees and add that value to your assessment. The way they come up with that value varies from area to area. Come may measure the trees trunk. Others consider the height of th e tree, and others still consider the age of the tree and its overall condition.
There is no question that most buyers love landscaping. If that werent the case there would be far less emphasis on the curb appeal of a house on the market. Trees offer a sense of privacy, while the rest of the landscaping creates a backdrop for the house. When youre facing a very difficult market, trees and landscaping could make or break the sale of your home.
If youre considering adding trees to your lot, take the time to consult with an arborist or landscaper. Not all trees are suitable for all lawns. For example, while that willow was fantastic in a yard that gets lots of water run off, it becomes a huge problem for someone with an underground drainage system. You want your investment to improve your homes value, not create a repair problem.
