The Lorax, the Keeper of the Trees, is a character who exemplifies Dr. Seuss’ ability to entertain children while teaching them simultaneously.  The character attempts to protect the trees from deforestation and its impact on the environment and inhabitants of the forest.  Trees are far more than an ornamental backdrop of Mother Nature.  A recent conversation with a homeowner over the spacing of the pygmy date palms turned startling when the homeowner countered with “I don’t like trees anyway; all they do is drop debris in my yard whenever there is a storm.  I’d remove them all if I had the energy”.

Granted, trees do sometimes drop leaves, fruit, or branches, but their benefits are far greater than the occasional cleanup.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture offers these findings on trees:

• “Trees and nature relieve what is sometimes called ‘nature-deficit disorder’, the malaise (a general feeling of discomfort, illness, or uneasiness whose exact cause is difficult to identify) caused by excessive time and focus indoors…”.
• “Some trees and green areas can increase neighborhood social cohesion and reduce crime”.
• “Trees release oxygen and store considerable amounts of carbon in their wood (One acre of forest absorbs six tons of carbon dioxide and puts out four tons of oxygen. This is enough to meet the annual needs of 18 people)“.
• Trees reduce ultraviolet rays from the sun and provide for cooler temperatures in their shaded areas.
• “…US Forest Service scientists and collaborators calculated that trees are saving more than 850 human lives a year and preventing 670,000 incidences of acute respiratory symptoms”.

The Arbor Day Foundation has this to say about trees in its information titled “Benefits of Trees – The Value of Trees to a Community” :

• Landscaping, especially with trees, can increase property values as much as 20 percent. Management Information Services/ICMA
• Healthy, mature trees add an average of 10 percent to a property’s value. USDA Forest Service
• The planting of trees means improved water quality, resulting in less runoff and erosion. This allows more recharging of the ground water supply. Wooded areas help prevent the transport of sediment and chemicals into streams. USDA Forest Service
• The net cooling effect of a young, healthy tree is equivalent to ten room-size air conditioners operating 20 hours a day. U.S. Department of Agriculture

With all the benefits that trees provide, who wouldn’t want to plant more of them?  Need help picking or pruning trees for your property?  Give us a call today for a greener tomorrow (877) LMP-PRO1.

References:

Research Review No. 26/April 2015 Trees Improve Human Health and Well-Being in Many Ways.  Retrieved from: https://www.fs.fed.us/nrs/news/review/review-vol26.pdf

Benefits of Trees – The Value of Trees to a Community.  Retrieved from: https://www.arborday.org/trees/benefits.cfm