Published 5/21/2021 by Oregon Tree Care
Do you have a tree in your yard you’re thinking about saying goodbye to? Maybe it’s a tree bearing fruit you don’t even like. Maybe it’s showing signs of decay. Or perhaps it just hasn’t looked as healthy since the Portland area’s great ice storm of 2021.
But wait! Before you decide to remove a tree, it’s important to:
- Never try to cut it down yourself
- Have it examined by a professional arborist like the team at Oregon Tree Care
- Consider these 6 reasons not to cut it down in the first place
Not only are trees beautiful and vital to our lives and well-being — they also provide a wealth of benefits that many people aren’t aware of. Let’s take a closer look!
Trees increase the property value of your home
Numerous studies on this topic have found that having healthy, mature trees as part of your home’s landscape can increase its property value (usually ranging from 3%-20%). But did you know it can also decrease time on the market?
In fact, a 2010 study on the worth of urban trees in Portland found that simply having trees on the property in some neighborhoods increased the home’s value by almost $9,000. Not only that, but the presence of trees reduced its time on the market by an average of 1.7 days.
They provide privacy
Not only do trees increase the property value of your home when you choose to sell it, but they provide privacy to you while you’re living in it. Trees can shield you from street noise (and nosy neighbors), form a lush and lively privacy wall, and create a sense of calm and seclusion in yards large and small.
Trees can cool your home and can reduce energy costs
Chances are, you’ve never really thought to compare a tree with an air conditioner. But they have more similarities than you think thanks to their cooling power! The USDA estimates the net cooling effect of a young tree is equal to 10 room-size conditioners running 20 hours per day. We’re not saying the shade from a well-placed tree near your house will feel just like sitting in front of an air conditioner, but it will keep your home significantly cooler, and even save you money on your energy bill.
Trees help clean the air
This is what trees are known for, right? Trees remove pollution from the air — in fact, in one year, a mature tree removes an estimated 48 pounds of carbon dioxide from the air. This impacts the air inside your home too, with one study finding that roadside trees reduced nearby indoor air pollution by 50%.
They prevent soil erosion around your property
A tree’s widespread root system can help keep nearby soil in place, discouraging erosion from wind or rain. The canopies created by tree leaves can also help reduce erosion caused by falling rain, a helpful benefit, especially in the Pacific Northwest.
Most of the time, trees are salvageable
If you notice a tree in your yard appears to be decaying, diseased, dead, or simply looks a little precarious, give an arborist a call to come and examine it. Your tree may have a treatable disease or a pest problem that can be solved. Many people are often surprised to learn that with a little maintenance and TLC, their tree can be helped back to its former health and glory. Even something as basic as trimming a tree’s branches can have a huge impact!
When you call our team at Oregon Tree Care to examine a tree on your property, we will consider things like:
- • The current health of the tree
- • How old the tree is
- • How large the tree is
- • Where the tree is located
- • The health of nearby trees
- • The likelihood of the tree causing damage to property
Once this examination is complete, we’ll provide clear recommendations for next steps. We’ve found that in most cases, trees can be saved, and we’ll only recommend tree removal when it’s the best option to mitigate risk to nearby people, property, or trees.
Maintenance is key
We see the beauty in trees, but if you feel like a tree on your property is becoming an eyesore or are unsure of how healthy it is, reach out to our team at Oregon Tree Care for a call today. Many homeowners are surprised to find even healthy trees need to be trimmed and pruned on a regular basis to help promote growth and mitigate risk. With regular trimming, your trees are:
- • Less likely to develop disease or an insect infestation
- • Able to better hold up against wind or ice storms
- • Free of dangerous hazards like broken, dead, or dying branches
- • More aesthetically pleasing
Thinking about removing a tree? Call Oregon Tree Care first
Trees benefit us and our lives in many ways. But even if these 6 reasons haven’t convinced you that you shouldn’t cut down your tree, we hope you’ll reach out to our team to have your tree examined first! We have the skill and experience to assess the situation and find a solution that will work best for you and your tree.
Give us a call today at (503) 929-9437 or contact us online here.