How Do Trees Help the Environment?

Trees Give Amazing Benefits

Here at DR Trees Oregon City we regularly get asked questions by our customers. A common question we get is to explain all of the benefits that trees have on an environment. Besides being undeniably beautiful, trees are also essential to our health and well being. They have earned this status largely 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. 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.
2. Fight Climate Change — Surplus carbon dioxide (CO2) is increasing in the atmosphere, playing a large part in climate change. Trees absorb CO2, taking out the carbon and 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.
3. Clean the Air — Trees are excellent at absorbing odors and what are called pollutant gases, such as nitrogen oxides, ozone, ammonia, and sulfur dioxide, and filter unhealthy particles from the air by trapping them on their bark and leaves.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Prevent Water Pollution — You don’t realize this, but 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.
7. Prevent Soil Erosion — When located on the sides of hills or on stream slopes, trees have a slow runoff and their presence helps to keep the soil in place.
8. Conserve Energy — Bet you’re surprised to read that one, but it’s true. If you place your trees around your home with thought to how much shade they will provide, 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 the carbon dioxide and other pollutants that are emitted from power plants.

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