The right trees can offer many valuable benefits for homeowners. Trees are a well-recognized symbol of stability. They convey the owner’s dedication to home improvement and maintaining the property. When chosen with care and strategically planted, trees are capable of adding plenty of greenery to your wallet when you decide to sell your home.
How Trees Add Value to the Home
Adding well-trimmed trees as part of your home improvement plans creates considerable curb appeal. This attracts buyers and can increase the value of a property by 15% or more. Healthy, well-maintained trees convey an ambiance of longevity. They also promote privacy while providing places to hang swings and build tree houses. These benefits make the home more valuable for homebuyers with young children and those seeking to own a peaceful retreat to relax within.
There are many other added benefits to including trees in your landscape. Trees can help deter and reduce property crime. They also create a peaceful, friendly atmosphere within the neighborhood. These factors have a positive influence on the value of the home as well as homes on surrounding streets.
Trees Provide a Firm Foundation for Landscaping
Effective landscaping requires creating a healthy ecosystem within the yard. Trees perform numerous tasks in this regard. They help stabilize the soil and reduce erosion, provide biomass that promotes healthy lawn growth and provide shelter for birds and insects that pollinate flowers and control pests. During the summer months, the canopy helps protect the lawn from scorching and reduces water evaporation. They also help to filter the air around the property which can reduce air pollution.
From the perspective of landscape design, trees define the yard. They provide firm boundaries between property lines, flower beds, and other fixed features. They determine pathways, create shade over a patio, or block a neighbor’s view of the backyard.
Trees Trim Utility Bills, Protect the Home, & Reduce Pollution
Tall trees with broad foliage can provide shade and reduce the amount of sunlight that reaches the home. This reduces heat gain which in turn lowers cooling costs in the summer months. This is a significant benefit that eco-conscious home buyers will notice and appreciate as they consider their real estate purchase.
Trees also help protect the property from damaging winds. Tall trees located around the boundaries of the property can reduce wind speeds on the home by as much as 60%. This helps reduce the potential for damage to siding, windows, shingles, etc. Further, trees reduce noise pollution on the property and can significantly reduce noise from nearby streets, highways, airports, trains, etc.
The Most Valuable Trees
Trees that are visually appealing and require minimal maintenance are the most appealing home improvement choices. In this regard, Maple trees, Crepe Myrtle, and various species of Evergreens are ideal choices. These trees provide plenty of shade in the summer and create beautiful displays in the fall. Evergreens provide year-round color and privacy to the yard. However, you will want to avoid Evergreen Conifers, and Leylandii Cypress as these particular fast-growing trees require significant maintenance and can create fire hazards as they grow.
Other popular tree choices for home improvement include fruit-bearing trees. Cherry, peach, and plum trees are beautiful in the spring and provide plenty of fresh fruit for homeowner’s to enjoy. In more temperate climates, lemon, lime, orange, and mandarin trees are some of the most popular. As with all landscaping choices, it is advisable to choose trees that are native to the area and well-suited to survive the seasonal changes in the region.
