Benefits of Trees

It is well known that all plants give off oxygen. There are many other benefits as well. The cooling shade of a large tree on a hot West Texas afternoon is very inviting. Nowhere are windbreaks more beneficial than in West Texas. Physical and financial benefits of trees are quantifiable.

Less tangible are the good feelings we get from our association with trees; the memories of climbing trees as a small child, the beauty of spring flowering trees and the soothing effects of a walk in the woods or in the park.

The shade of a large tree is a microclimate of greater humidity and a temperature of at least 10 degrees cooler than the surrounding area on a summer afternoon. The canopy of the urban forest has a great moderating effect on the wind, especially when compared to the rural areas of the Plains. Trees absorb the impact of rainfall, slowdown runoff, and increase the rate of absorption.

Houses with trees and landscaping consistently sell sooner and for a greater price than houses without. A large shade tree on the west side of your house can save hundreds of dollars, perhaps thousands, over the life of the tree in cooling costs.

10.12.2006. 23:22