Trees & Shrubs

The benefits of trees and shrubs are endless. Most often we plant trees and shrubs to provide shade and to beautify our landscapes. Trees and shrubs provide many less obvious benefits.

Fruit, flowering and shade trees, evergreens and deciduous shrubs not only add beauty to your landscape, they add value to your property as well. The value of a well landscaped home with mature, healthy trees can be as much as 10-15 percent higher than a home with little or no landscaping.

Well placed trees and shrubs can reduce energy consumption during the hot summer months. Placing deciduous shrubs and trees on the south and west sides of your home will allow the sun to warm the house in winter while providing summer shade. Evergreens on the north side will help block the cold winter winds.

Environmentally, trees improve air quality by filtering dust and pollutants such as carbon dioxide and ozone from the air we breathe, while providing the oxygen we need to survive. They reduce the amount of storm water runoff which reduces erosion and water pollution and helps in reducing the effects of flooding.

Trees provide a canopy and wildlife habitat. If you want to attract a wide assortment of birds and other wildlife to your yard, adding trees and shrubs will give them food, protection and a place to call home.

Seasonally, trees and shrubs give us beautiful spring blooms, lush green foliage in summer and a rainbow of colorful displays in fall. Fruit bearing trees can produce bushels of food annually. There are many social benefits as well. Spending time among trees helps reduce stress.

Studies have shown that children who spend some of their time in green spaces, retain more of the information they are taught in schools. Hospital patients recover faster when they have a view of trees. Trees can be planted as a living memorial to a loved one or to commemorate an important event.