There are a great many reasons for planting trees around your home, but the best one is Arbor day. In case you didn't know Arbor Days pop up all over the country each and every year. Each state has its own Arbor Day,and of course there is the national Arbor day on the last Friday of April. With that comes the celebration of trees in which everyone is encouraged to plant a tree or several of them. The Lorax of Dr. Seuss fame along with many a tree-hugger, environmentalist, nature conservationist, not to mention birds, squirrels and chipmunks, no doubt love this time of year. But if you are not one of these you may be wondering why you, the average homeowner, should celebrate this most holy of gardening holidays. If the beauty of a tree alone isn't enough to get you digging a hole for a tree whether it is a wee sapling or a six foot tall Spruce, a small ornamental or a huge shade producer then stick around. We'll go over great reasons to plant trees around your home.
Beautify the world
Doesn't matter if it's a tiny bonsai on your windowsill, a Crimson Queen Japanese Red Maple, a huge Weeping Willow, a Magnolia Grandiflora perfuming the entire neighborhood, a Washington Hawthorn in its floral spring splendor or a Sugar Maple ablaze in autumn colors, all trees are beautiful. Needless to say a tree can beautify and gives year round interest to your landscape like nothing else.
Privacy Is King
Planting a row of evergreen trees around your yard will ensure your privacy without having to go to the added expense of an ugly chainlink fence. Another bonus is to the wildlife they attract. Birds love to nest particularly in evergreens as they provide great cover from predators and ample protection even through winter storms.
Breathe Easy
Ever notice how fresh and clean the air smells in heavily forested areas? You would if you spend a considerable amount of time in big, noisy, dirty cities where a tree is a rarity. Trees are the reason for our clean air. They act as filters and the more you have around you the better you breathe. You like breathing, don't you? Then plant a tree or seven of them.
Healthy world, Healthy You.
As trees will make for a healthy environment just by being, so do they improve your health. Studies have proven that plants reduce stress levels literally just by being there. From potted Palms in your home, a small Ficus in your office or an ornamental Banana on the patio they are all designed to make your blood pressure behave, your heart work properly and your general attitude to improve. Why question it? Just surround yourself with trees and perhaps you'll live at least half as long as they do.
Climate Control
Those big, bad cities where the only place you can find a tree is in a park, are, no doubt, ugly but besides that they are super hot in summer. On the other hand those cities where trees line the streets, where you can find a hidden oasis between buildings or where a charming courtyard invites the concrete-weary office worker are, of course, prettier but also cooler in summer. Why? Trees provide all that is required to somewhat control climates. Buildings and concrete absorb heat from the sun and spew it out burning up already heated people. Trees planted near these buildings do a great job in cooling the air, cooling the concrete and cooling the people. Best of all this climate control is free. Works the same for a neighborhood street lined with flowering Crabapples or Bradford Pears. Neighbors that stay cool somehow seem more palatable.
Taming Winter
A strategically placed row of trees makes a fantastic wind barrier which in turn protects your home from cold. Your windows will rattle no more when the powerful winter winds are blocked before they can get to you. This saves you money on heating. According to the Arbor Day Foundation this savings could be as high as 15-35% annually. That's nothing to sneeze at.
Free Air-Conditioning
On the reverse side, large trees can shade your home and a shaded home is a cooler home without spending an extra dime in electricity. Where summers get brutally hot, trees planted on the south side of the home provide instant and free cooling, again with considerable savings to the smart homeowner.
Fun Factor
Come on now, you remember being a kid, climbing a tree, swinging from a tire, building a fort or just sitting under one and daydreaming. Trees are awesome fun. That's not even taking into account the fun you'll have watching squirrels gathering acorns, chipmunks scrambling over branches and birds twittering about eating seeds and berries and building nests.
Attractive To Wildlife
Trees are home to many a critter. Even a dead tree can provide home for insects which in turn bring woodpeckers and other insect eaters. That's not mentioning the nasty bugs the birds will rid you of just because you were nice enough to give them a home. Choose a tree with a wonderful spring blossom which form berries by summer, such as a Dogwood or Russian Olive and you'll not only make your yard the envy of the street but you will also please songbirds who love to nibble on the berries and in return they'll sing for their supper. What could be better than that?
Grow Your Own Fruits and Nuts
Unless you like paying through the nose for fruits and nuts you might consider planting a few trees to give you these. Grow them without chemicals, in other words organically, and your fruits will be far better than those you buy at the market with freshness guaranteed.
These are just a few great reasons to plant trees. When it comes to landscaping and when in doubt plant a tree. To beautifying and improve your life, your home, your neighborhood, even the world planting a tree takes care of everything. It is the truly intelligent person that knows Arbor Day should be everyday.