Often the first thing people do when they move into a new home, is start cutting down the trees and bushes on the property. Sometimes it is necessary, if the trees are diseased or in danger of dropping limbs during the next bout of bad weather. Occasionally it is to improve the amount of light that enters the garden or property. However, trees are essential to the well being of humans, so even if you have to cut one down, the following are reasons to plant some more.

Developers are improving on their choice of trees for new property landscaping, but in years gone by people simply planted the wrong species of trees for cohabiting with humans. Rampant Conifer varieties that can grow several feet in a year if left unchecked are fine in a managed woodland, but can quickly become invasive in an urban garden. Lime trees and others that produce copious amounts of sap may look majestic when mature, but they are not suitable for planting next to driveways or roadsides where cars are parked as the sap can be corrosive to paintwork. Choosing the right tree for the location is crucial, and there are a huge number of medium sized trees to select from.

For visual enjoyment, trees are great. Whether slender and upright such as Poplars, or wide and arching like Weeping Willows, the shapes that trees make on the horizon are often overlooked in our daily lives. Usually it is only when a tree is felled that we realise the impact it had on the landscape. Leaf colour is another great reason for planting trees in your garden. Evergreens, such as Yew provide a backdrop for more flamboyant plants and flowers, while the stars of the autumn garden, the Acers and Maples, give a stunning visual display of reds and golds to rival any firework show.

Quite apart from the benefits to the atmosphere that trees provide in absorbing the carbon dioxide and other harmful chemicals and giving out oxygen, trees provide a home for a wide number of animals, insects and birds. Indeed, trees are the hippy communes of the natural world! Providing nesting sites both on their branches and inside their trunks, a single tree can support several varieties of bird in perfect harmony. The bark of most trees is a perfect hideaway for thousands of insects, which not only keep the avian residents fed, but also help to break down the leaf matter during the autumn and winter, providing recycled nutrients for the tree itself. Even after a tree has died, if the stump remains and is hollow, then small mammals will make their homes there, continuing the usefulness of the dead wood.

Trees can help to create a micro-climate, which can lower the temperature in the summer compared to areas without trees nearby. By producing shade, they can reduce the need for costly air conditioner units, and can also provide shelter for homes from winds and extreme winter weather. By planting a row of dense trees, you can create a sound absorbing barrier that screens a view of a busy road, and that can also act as a windbreak. This can significantly reduce heating costs in the winter. Finally, properties with established trees can realise higher sale value than their treeless neighbours, improving your investment financially and aesthetically.

Learn more about this author, Silva Payne.
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