TREE CARE
Trees benefit wildlife . Trees provide vital wildlife habitats — including various pollinators that we work vigorously to protect .
Trees help reduce crime . Believe it or not , the University of Washington reports that when it comes to minor crimes , communities experience “ less graffiti , vandalism , and littering in outdoor spaces with trees as a part of the natural landscape than in comparable plant-less spaces .”
Trees are a good investment of our public dollars . The U . S . Forest Service reports that investing in trees with regular maintenance is money well spent . Every dollar spent on planting and caring for a community tree yields benefits that are two to five times that investment — benefits that include cleaner air , lower energy costs , improved water quality , improved stormwater control , and increased property values .
Trees increase our property values . Research by Pacific Northwest Research Station showed that the presence of street trees increased sale prices of houses in Portland , Ore ., neighborhoods by an average of $ 8,870 and reduced time on the market by an average of 1.7 days .
These examples demonstrate that it is imperative that we properly tend to and care for the trees around us , as life on Earth could not exist without trees . If you ’ re curious about the trees in your neck of the woods , consider using the Arbor Day Foundation ’ s Tree Identification
Field Guide ( https :// www . arborday . org / trees / whatTree /) to identify a tree simply by the kinds of leaves it produces . And the next time you ’ re outdoors , take a moment to think about the ways trees better your life . SFM
Maegan Mullinax is a business development manager and Safety Committee member at ACRT Services . She is an experienced arborist and horticulturalist and actively participates in the UVM industry . She is an ISA Certified Arborist , a member of the ISA Southern Chapter , and a member of the Fort Oglethorpe , Georgia Tree Board . She is also a member of the Georgia Tree Council and the Utility Arborist Association where she sits on the Professional Development Committee . sportsfieldmanagementonline . com May 2021 | SportsField Management
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