The Positive Benefits of Trees

We’ve always known that trees rock; studies show that trees fight asthma in kids, they keep everyone healthier, can save you tons on energy costs, and they’re beautiful and fun to hug. However, trees have some other benefits that you may not have heard of – in fact some of the benefits below I hadn’t even heard of, and I read about trees all the time. The Morton Arboretum has a fabulous piece up at their website about the many (research proven) ways that trees have a positive effect on people’s lives, including their health, homes, businesses, communities, drinking water, and air quality.

For example…

Trees have economic benefits:

Research shows that shoppers in well-landscaped business districts are willing to pay more for parking and up to 12% more for goods and services which as you might guess is a huge perk for businesses.

Landscaping with trees, can significantly increase property values.

Trees benefit your health:

Desk workers with and without views of nature were surveyed. Those without views of nature, when asked about 11 different ailments, claimed 23% more incidence of illness in the prior 6 months.

Hospital patients recovering from surgery who had a view of a grove of trees through their windows required fewer pain relievers, experienced fewer complications, and left the hospital sooner than similar patients who had a view of a brick wall.

Symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children are relieved after contact with nature. Specifically, ADHD kids are better able to concentrate, complete tasks, and follow directions after playing in natural settings. The greener the setting, the more relief.

Trees reduce road rage – studies show that drivers who are exposed to roadside nature scenes have a greater ability to cope with driving stresses.

Trees conserve energy:

The net cooling effect of a young, healthy tree is equivalent to 10 room-size air conditioners operating 20 hours a day.

Fifty million shade trees planted in strategic, energy-saving locations could eliminate the need for seven 100-megawatt power plants.


Trees themselves save the planet:

Modest increases of 10% canopy cover in the New York City Area were shown to reduce peak ozone levels by up to 4 parts per billion or by nearly 3% of the maximum and 37% of the amount by which the area exceeded its air quality standard. Similar results were found in Los Angeles and along the East Coast from Baltimore to Boston.

Trees halt runoff and erosion; in fact, research shows that 100 mature leafy tree crowns intercept about 100,000 gallons of rainfall per year, reducing runoff and providing cleaner water.

Trees improve your world:

Trees reduce noise pollution – a belt of trees 98 feet wide and 49 feet tall can reduce highway noise by 6 to 10 decibels.

Trees in Davis, California, parking lots reduced asphalt temperatures by as much as 36 degrees Fahrenheit, and car interior temperatures by over 47 degrees Fahrenheit.

Views of trees can reduce the stress response of both body and mind when stressors of urban conditions are present.

Trees reduce crime! Apartment buildings with high levels of greenery had 52% fewer crimes than those without any trees. Buildings with medium amounts of greenery had 42% fewer crimes.

Trees help girls succeed. On average, the greener a girl’s view from home, the better she concentrates and the better her self-discipline, enabling her to make more thoughtful choices and do better in school.

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Wow right. For more ways that trees benefit your family and world visit THE BENEFITS OF TREES at the The Morton Arboretum, see some amazing trees in my favorite tree book of all time, or learn more about how you can plant more trees where you live.