There are endless reasons that we enjoy planting and nurturing the trees in our yard. First and foremost, no one can deny the enjoyment and satisfaction that comes from a well-maintained landscape. And on a deeper level, biologically, we need trees to survive; they are a necessary component to life on earth.
Another benefit of planting and taking care of trees, which may not come immediately to mind: They can increase the value of your home in more ways than one.
Intangible Benefits
We are realizing more and more intangible value to urban trees and forest landscapes as time goes on.
Stress Reduction
Studies have shown that cities with urban forests and maintained parks are healthier and safer. You could infer that a city that is healthy and safe is also happier overall. These areas abundant in urban trees also have been shown to decrease levels of the stress hormone cortisol (Hanson, Frank 2016 p. 4).
Social Benefits
Social benefits that have been reported include:
- Improved academic performance
- Improved mental health
- Crime reduction
These benefits are covered in depth here.
Physical Benefits
A study stated that “an increase in tree density of 1 standard deviation was associated with a 24-29% lower prevalence of asthma in young children” (Lovasi et al. 2008). This study was conducted in New York City to find a relationship between asthma cases and the density of street trees in an area. Other studies have shown that those who live near forest landscapes have an increased level of physical activity.
Tangible Benefits
OK, now let’s get to the good stuff! Trees can increase the value of our property by up to 25%. Before you get too excited, it is important to note that this is dependent on the species, age and location.
Another interesting fact is that a home with trees or in a neighborhood with healthy mature trees is up to 20% more saleable. This helps to put into perspective the importance of preserving your trees, so they mature and grow healthy. You can think of it as an investment that literally grows over time. The more time you spend taking care of your tree, the more it will benefit you in the long run.
Importance of Selecting The Right Tree
The flip side of this coin is that poorly selected and placed trees can decrease your property value. Therefore, it is important to be wise about selecting the proper tree for your environment. As we have stated in previous articles, selecting a tree that will survive in your soil composition and hardiness zone will impact its longevity. There are plenty of amazing trees that thrive in Ohio. With a little research, you can have a healthy tree to be proud of.
Understanding Your Tree’s Value
If you are curious about how much your tree is worth, contact a certified arborist to give you an appraisal value. Not to get anyone’s hopes up, but tree appraisal values have been up to $10,000! Understanding how much your trees and property are worth can be beneficial if an unfortunate hazard occurred.