Envorinmental Benefits of Trees

The World Is Nothing Without Trees

Here at Tree Surgery Redmond, we regularly get asked questions by our customers, especially regarding all of the benefits that trees have on the environment.

Besides being undeniably beautiful, trees are also essential to the health and well being of every living organism on this planet. They have earned this status through the many benefits they provide for the environment. Trees are the largest plants on earth, and they provide us with oxygen, clean the atmosphere by storing carbon, give shelter and protection to our wildlife, and improve the soil.

Environmental Benefits of Trees

Trees change the environment in which we all must live for the better in a variety of ways.

Here are some examples of this

1. Prevent Soil Erosion — When located on the sides of hills or on stream slopes, trees can slow runoff and their presence helps to keep the soil in place.
2. Conserve Energy — Bet you’re surprised to read that one, but it’s true. If you place your trees around your home, you’ll thank yourself because they can indeed reduce the amount of energy your air conditioner will use up by as much as half. Moreover, when we lower the amount of energy used to keep our homes cool, we also lower carbon dioxide emissions, reducing environmental impacts.
3. Temperatures — Trees produce a cooling effect which enables them to regulate temperatures and can cancel out the repercussions caused by the heating effect of buildings and sidewalks in urban areas.
4. Fight Climate Change — Surplus carbon dioxide is increasing in the atmosphere, playing a large part in climate change. Trees absorb CO2, taking out the carbon, storing it while sending oxygen back into the air. It is said that in one year, an acre of grown trees sucks up as much CO2 as is produced when a car is driven 26,000 miles.
5. Clean the Air — Trees are great at absorbing odors from pollutant gases such as nitrogen oxides, ozone, ammonia, and sulfur dioxide, and filter unhealthy particles from the air by metabolizing them.
6. Save Water — The shade produced by trees slows down the rate of water evaporation from lawns. Newly planted trees require only about fifteen gallons of water a week to survive. Furthermore, when trees emit water vapor, they increase the amount of moisture in the atmosphere, cooling the surrounding area.
7. Produce Oxygen — Trees are so good at producing oxygen that in just one year, an acre of grown trees can create ample oxygen for 18 people.
8. Prevent Water Pollution — Trees reduce runoff just by being there. They break rainfall, letting the water flow down their trunks and right into the earth. By doing this they keep storm-water from taking its pollutants to the ocean. If trees are mulched, they absorb and filter this water and then use it to refill their groundwater supply.

Trees give us many benefits, but if we wish to make the most use of them, then we must make sure that our trees receive regular maintenance. While even a small tree has its advantages, the benefits increase exponentially as it grows. Remember that good tree maintenance includes a thorough inspection of the tree, along with pruning, and even applying mulch.