Presented by

Paige Thacker: Extension Agent, Horticulture

Virginia Cooperative Extension

Julia Flanagan: County Arborist,

Dept. of Public Works

Occoquan/Lake RidgeTree Clinic

We live in the Eastern Deciduous Forest

Why It Is Good to Plant Trees

The natural environment where we live is one dominated by trees.

Benefits of TreesHigher Water Quality

Why It Is Good to Plant Trees

Benefits of TreesBetter Air Quality

Forested land can be as much as 7° F cooler than highly urban areas where most of the tree cover has been removed .

Cooler air reduces smog, ground level ozone and related health problems like asthma.

Trees store CO2 and other pollutants like SO2, Ozone (O3) and NO2 that are more concentrated in developed areas.

Trees intercept particulate pollutants .

Why It Is Good to Plant Trees

Benefits of Trees – ShadeLower energy costs. Large trees planted

strategically on the southeastern and southwestern sides of your home and over air conditioners can reduce cooling costs by 10% -30%

Why It Is Good to Plant Trees

Benefits of Trees

Higher Property Values

For homes valued at $250,00 or more, 98% of Realtors believe the presence of mature trees has a “strong to moderate impact” on the salability of homes.

A well landscaped property can add 10% to 20% more value to a property, especially if it includes mature trees.

Developers often charge premiums of $10,000 to over $25,000 for homes on wooded lots or that back to trees.

Why It Is Good to Plant Trees

Why It Is Good to Plant Trees

Because we are losing our forest cover to development

Population Current (estimated): 417,293 Growth from 1990 – 2000: 30.2% Growth from 2000 – 2010: 43.2% Growth from 2010 – Mar 2013: 3.8%

Acres of Land Permitted for Clearing:2003: 3500 acres2004: 4800 acres2006: ~1200 acres

2011

2000

Why It Is Good to Plant Trees

Because Trees – especially Natives - benefit our wildlife neighbors too!

A Plug for Using Natives…The plants we maintain around our homes

create a local ecology, for better or for worse.Native plants benefit local wildlife

populations much moreso than non-natives.

Many Beautiful Natives© Julia Flanagan

Think into the Future!

Arlington Co. ~1950

Arlington Co. ~2008