TREE CARE

By Maegan Mullinax

If you conduct a quick Google search by typing in “ why are trees important ” or a similar phrase , the Internet will yield more than 200 million results , including lists of benefits , values , efforts to save trees , and more , in less than a second . Why ? Because trees have such a great impact on our lives and ecosystem .

Trees provide far more than shade and curb appeal . The Arbor Day Foundation lists several ways these vital living organisms bring added value to our lives , the planet , wildlife , and beyond .

Trees help clean our air . Trees remove pollution from the atmosphere , improve air quality and improve human health . According to the U . S . Forest Service , in the greater Kansas City area alone , trees remove 26,000 tons of air pollution each year .

Trees contribute to our health . According to Harvard Medical School , spending time in nature can help reduce stress , anxiety , and depression , and maybe even improve our memory . We are fortunate in the green industry to work outdoors with trees daily , unlike other industries where professionals , such as office or health care workers , are not as fortunate .

Trees provide us with oxygen . A single large tree can provide one day ’ s supply of oxygen for up to four people , according to North Carolina State University .

Trees help clean our drinking water . The U . S . Forest Service shares that forested watersheds provide drinking water to more than 180 million Americans — that ’ s just over half of the population of the United States .

Trees provide much-needed cooling . Sit back , relax , and skip the sunburn . Thanks to trees , shaded surfaces may be 20 to 45 degrees ( Fahrenheit ) cooler than the peak temperatures of un-shaded materials , according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency . Want to plant a shady , fast-growing tree ? Consider a weeping willow , Texas red oak , northern catalpa , red maple , or American sycamore .

Trees help reduce the effects of climate change . Trees are magical living creatures that have the power to absorb carbon dioxide

( CO 2

), and remove and store carbon while releasing oxygen back into the air . In just one year , one acre of mature trees takes in the amount of

CO 2 produced by a vehicle driven 26,000 miles — that ’ s a little more than one trip around the Earth .

Trees help us save energy . Saving energy often leads to saving money , right ? As it turns out , the United States Department of Energy agrees , and notes that if trees are positioned properly , they can reduce a household ’ s energy consumption for heating and cooling by up to 25 %. This reduction could save an average U . S . household between $ 100 and $ 250 in energy costs annually .

38 SportsField Management | May 2021 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com