1. Breathe Easy!
Trees absorb nasty odours and pollutant gases (nitrogen oxides, ammonia, sulfur dioxide and ozone) and filter particulates out of the air by concealing them on their leaves and bark. Two trees are needed to supply the oxygen needs of each person. A typical person consumes about 175 KILOGRAMS of oxygen a year!
2. Hot Property, Shady Trees
Never underestimate the beauty of a well-planted tree on your property. While helping the pleasant aesthetic of your house, It can raise your property value by as much as 15 per cent!
3. Trees Fight Crime!
I know, sounds strange! But suburbs and homes with barren landscapes have been shown to have a greater incidence of violence in and out of the home than their greener counterparts. Research shows urban trees are correlated with lower crime rates including graffiti, vandalism and littering.
4. Dr. Tree
Studies have shown that ill patients with views of trees out their windows heal faster and with less complications. Children with ADHD show fewer symptoms when they have access to nature – aiding concentration by reducing mental fatigue. Trees also release chemicals known as phytoncides which can reduce blood pressure and anxiety.
5. Trees = A Cooler House!
Three trees placed strategically around a single-family home can cut summer air conditioning needs by up to 50 percent! By reducing energy demands for cooling our houses, we reduce carbon dioxide and other pollution emissions. Trees lower the air temperature outside by evaporating water in their leaves.
6. Out of Sight Out of Mind
From concrete walls to parking lots – trees can mask these unsightly views. Not only do they give us a pleasant green landscape, they muffle massive amounts of sound from nearby streets and highways all while reducing dust and glare!
7. Skin Cancer Shield
Skin cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in Australia. Trees reduce harmful UV exposure by up to 50 percent. It’s highly important for trees to be planted in high-traffic places like school campuses and playgrounds – where children spend hours outdoors.
8. Storm Season
While misplaced and overgrown trees are dangers during storm season – properly paced and healthy grown trees intercept and slow storm water, therefore decreasing the likelihood of flooding and erosion. However, NEVER take shelter under a tree during a storm. Trees are negatively charged, and lighting is positively charged, so trees often get struck. On top of that, electricity always takes the ‘path of least resistance’ meaning the tallest object will be struck first, so steer clear!
9. Trees Save Water & Prevent Its Pollution
Shade from strategically placed trees slows water evaporation from thirsty Aussie lawns. As trees transpire, they increase atmospheric moisture. Trees reduce runoff by breaking rainfall, thus allowing the water to flow down the trunk and into the earth below the tree. Most importantly, this prevents stormwater from carrying pollutants to the ocean. When mulched, trees behave like a sponge that filters this water naturally and repurposes it to recharge groundwater supplies.
10. Trees Are Millions of Years Old
385 million years to be exact. The extreme age of this plant species is one of the most astounding facts. The first tree is believed to be the Wattieza, a prehistoric tree genus that is now extinct. Fossils of this tree were discovered in New York in 2007 – dating from around 385 million years ago! Trees never die of old age, they are generally killed by insects, disease or most commonly – people.
11. Trees Make Coffee & Chocolate
We know that trees make our favourite fleshy fruits like pears, apples, plums and oranges, they’re also responsible for our snacking habits! We all love our coffee and chocolate fix (some of us multiple times a day). The fruits of the cocoa tree provide the base ingredients of chocolate. Coffee beans are extracted from the berry of the coffee tree. While we’re on the subject of snacks, trees also provide us with some of our favourite edible nuts such as coconuts, walnuts, almonds, pecans, hazels, pine nuts and pistachios!
12. Spider Trees
Australia is known for its record amount of spider species, but in 2010 there were huge floods in areas of Pakistan which caused millions of spiders to climb up into the trees to escape rising water. When the flood waters went down, the trees were enveloped in spiders’ web. Thankfully, the trees still had a useful function to reduce the mosquito population in the wake of the floods!