Trees in the Home Landscape
Paul Duxbury
Trees add so much to the home landscape! They provide shade,
clean air, habitat for wildlife, value to your property, and even
memories.
If your yard does not have any trees at the moment, you may want
to consider planting some. Studies have shown that trees and
landscaping add value to your property. Even if you do not intend
to sell your property, trees can provide years of enjoyment. If
you have trees in your yard, check to see that they are healthy.
If they are near the end of their life expectancy or show signs
of decline, you may want to plant new trees that will become
established before the old trees are removed.
If properly located and planted, trees can help control energy
costs. A large shade tree planted on the southwest side of the
house can provide cooling shade in the summer, helping reduce air
conditioning costs. Once the leaves drop in the fall, the winter
sun is free to warm your house on cold winter days. Evergreen
trees, planted to block cold winter winds, can help reduce winter
heating costs.
Have you wondered what you could do to reduce greenhouse gases
and address global warming? Planting trees will help! One of the
greenhouse gases causing the most concern is carbon dioxide.
Plants take this gas out of the air and use it in photosynthesis.
Carbon is stored in the wood and living tissues of trees. When
leaves fall and are composted, carbon is added to the soil. This
improves the soil for plant growth and stores more of the carbon
in the form of soil organic matter. Carbon can be stored for
hundreds of years in the trunks of trees or in the form of
lumber, furniture, and other wood products. By planting trees in
your yard, you can help reduce greenhouse gases.
Trees also provide shelter and food for a variety of wildlife.
While installing bird feeders will help attract birds to your
yard, providing them with nearby trees and shrubs to escape
danger, build nests, and obtain food, will be even more
effective. Squirrels and other small mammals use trees for
nesting sites and food sources. When selecting trees, consider
what food value they may offer to the wildlife in your community.
Trees can offer years of enjoyment. Planting trees and watching
them grow can be part of your family's memories. Consider
planting a tree to commemorate a milestone in your family's life.
While raking leaves may seem like a chore as you get older,
jumping in piles of leaves can be a treat for children. Hanging a
swing, building a tree house, or simply relaxing under the shade
of a tree on a hot summer day can be a memorable experience.
Paul is Head of Training for a major UK Charitable Organisation
with a wealth of experience in personal development, management
development, e-learning and operational management. In addition
he owns PK eBooks ( http://www.pk-ebooks.co.uk) and has just
published a Home Owners Guide to Landscaping eBook which can be
found at
http://www.pk-ebooks.co.uk/home_landscaping.htm
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