Guest Post: The Undeniable Benefits of Street Trees

Five Reasons to Plant Street Trees

Frank Marquardt

My love affair with street trees is a product of growing up in Sacramento and the branching canopies of Sycamores that shaded my street.

I climbed these trees, played in their leaves, and took refuge in their shade on 100-degree days.

But as I’ve learned more about street trees I’ve discovered tangible and intangible benefits that go far beyond being playthings for kids.

http://www.treesaregood.com/treecare/tree_benefits.aspx

Are you interested in reducing crime? Worried about your (or a parent’s) health? Concerned with your property value?

Plant a street tree to see results.

#1: Street Trees Are Good For You

It’s true. Street trees are good for you. Visual exposure to settings with trees lower stress within just five minutes, according to a Texas A&M study.

#2: Street Trees Reduce Crime

That’s not all. A University of Illinois study on a public housing development in Chicago found 48% fewer property crimes—and 56% fewer violent crimes—in neighborhoods with more trees.

http://www.coloradotrees.org/benefits.htm#sociological

Who doesn’t want to see crime fall? You can do your part by planting a street tree.

#3: Street Trees Improve Property Value

Quite a few studies show that trees add value to a property. Here’s a couple:

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/Home/urban/features/propertyvalue/tabid/5459/Default.aspx

-       98% of realtors believe that mature trees have a strong to moderate impact on the saleability of homes valued $250,000 or more, according to research by Arbor National Mortgage and American Forests
-       Landscaping with trees can increase your property values as much as 20%, according to Management Information Services/ICMA (other research puts property value increases at between 5 and 25%)
-       Trees add $6.9 million to property values annually in San Francisco, according to a UC Davis study

Thinking of selling your home one day? You’d be wise to plant a street tree today.

#4: Views of Trees Offer Health Benefits

Notice how newer hospitals tend to have courtyards with trees and other vegetation? That’s because seeing trees is healing. Hospital patients with views of trees have fewer complications and lowered need for painkillers. If you’re caring for a sick parent or growing older yourself—and who of us isn’t?—planting street trees could make a positive difference on our personal health or those of somebody we love.

http://www.asianhhm.com/healthcare_management/hospitals_heal.htm

(Also worth noting: spending time with trees can boost immunity.)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/06/health/06real.html?_r=1

#5: Trees Are Good for the Environment

They’re good in a lot of ways. (A “gift of nature,” according to some tree enthusiasts.) They can help reduce noise pollution from the 24 by attracting twittering birds and from wind blowing through them. They turn carbon to oxygen. Their roots take in water during heavy rains, lowering the chance of flooding and runoff.

http://www.treefolks.org/store_biglist.asp

http://www.carbonica.org/tree-cycle.aspx

Bonus Benefits

Street trees offer more than five benefits—they also can cause cars to slow down, reduce incidents of domestic violence, lower energy costs, and relieve attention deficit disorder in kids.  

http://www.coloradotrees.org/benefits.htm#pavement

http://lhhl.illinois.edu/

http://www.urbangardensweb.com/2009/07/01/ca-urban-forests-council/

Where Do I Get a Tree?

Good news: The City of Oakland has a program that will install a free 15 gallon tree, providing maintenance for the tree’s life. All you have to do? Water it for three years, mulch it, and keep it litter-free. They’ll stake it, prune it, and repair the sidewalk for you if there are troubles down the road. [Editor's note:  If your sidewalk strip is currently under inches of concrete, the City will remove the concrete before planting the tree, too!]

http://www.oaklandpw.com/Page555.aspx

Of course you can also get trees at nurseries—East Bay Nursery has a terrific selection. Need help with a planting? Let me know and I’ll see about organizing a tree-planting party.

http://www.eastbaynursery.com/eastbaynursery.com/Home/Home.php

Trees Are Beautiful

Undoubtedly, there are great financial, social, and environmental reasons to plant trees. But for me, the desire to have more trees in the neighborhood stems from something else. I find them beautiful. I love the lessons they offer us standing in one spot, gently swaying with the seasons. As we go busily from one place to another, they’re there, grounding us to our homes, our community, and each other.

From Christine:

Thanks so much for sharing this great information, Frank!  If anyone is interested in discussing street trees further, please leave a comment, contact friendsofidorapark@gmail.com or frank.m3@gmail.com.