Did you know that planting a tree is one of the easiest and most powerful things you can do to have a positive impact on the environment, the value of your home, and your quality of life? Trees clean the air, prevent rainwater runoff, help you save energy and provide a habitat for birds and wildlife.
Through photosynthesis, trees absorb harmful carbon dioxide, removing and storing the carbon and releasing oxygen back into the air. Trees absorb odors and pollutants, and it is estimated that one tree can absorb nearly 10 pounds of polluted air each year and release 260 pounds of oxygen.
Leaf canopies help buffer the falling rain, and tree roots hold the soil in place, encouraging the water to seep into the ground rather than run off. During heavy rains, water runoff finds its way to streams, lakes and wetlands, creating the potential for flooding and carrying pollutants along the way.
Properly placed and planted trees can reduce your energy bill – trees conserve energy in summer and winter, providing shade from the hot summer sun and shelter from cold winter winds.
Studies of comparable homes with and without trees show that a yard with trees increases your home’s value by up to 15 percent.
Trees provide nesting sites, food and shelter for birds and animals. Hang a feeder in one of the branches and enjoy the birdsong all year long.
Trees can live hundreds of years, so when you plant a tree, you are giving a gift to your children and grandchildren. It’s a symbol of your commitment to the environment and the beauty of the world around you that will live on far beyond your own lifetime.
The social media graphics developed by NICH use data gathered from research publications, extension publications, government organization outputs, and resource websites. Share these graphics on your own social media and other publications and help us engage consumers and create a world where every household participates in Consumer Horticulture!
The National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture (NICH) is a consortium of industry leaders who are promoting the benefits and value of horticulture. NICH brings together academia, government, industry, and nonprofits to cultivate the growth and development of a healthy world through landscapes, gardens and plants – indoors and out. The Mission of the National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture is to grow a healthy world through the art, science and business of plants, gardens and landscapes.
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