Growing Home Campaign

Good Reasons to Plant Trees

Trees make Good Neighbors—Trees add beauty to our individual yards and our entire community.
Trees are Cool—Trees cool the air, land and water with leafy shade and moisture and help save money on energy costs.
Trees Save Tax Dollars—Trees slow stormwater runoff and can reduce the cost of controlling stormwater, especially in urban areas.
Animals Need Trees—Trees provide food and habitat for many kinds of species.
Trees Protect Soil—By holding soil in place with their root system and adding nutrients each fall with their leaves, trees are crucial to sustaining and replenishing our soil.
Trees Help Us Breathe Easier—Trees clean the air and return pure oxygen.
Trees Fight Climate Change—Planting trees helps offset greenhouse gases.
Trees Clean Our Water and Air—From air pollutants to pesticides and fertilizer runoff, trees absorb many harmful pollutants.

Trees Help Increase Property Values

Real estate values increase when a property and neighborhood are beautified with trees. Trees can increase property values by 15 percent or more.

Who Says Money Doesn't Grow on Trees?

Trees Help Save on Energy Costs

Trees, Shade & Cool—Shade from trees reduces the need for air conditioning in summer. Well placed trees can reduce summer air conditioning costs by 15 to 30 percent.
Trees Act as Windbreaks—In winter, trees break the force of cold winter winds. An effective windbreak can lower heating bills up to 30 percent.

What's Your Carbon Footprint?

American Forests - Personal Climate Change Calculator provides an easy to use tool which will help you measure your household’s climate-affecting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and the number of trees needed to absorb that amount of CO2.

Revised March 10, 2010