Feature Article

The average family is always looking for a solid investment. Stocks? Bonds? Gold? Don’t overlook an easy way to get more from your money – trees.

Think about it. Cars, couches, and computers all depreciate the minute you buy them. Trees increase in value the minute they leave the nursery and continue to increase as they mature. They also add to your property’s resale or rental value by improving curb appeal.

Looking for hard numbers? The United States Forest Service says trees can increase property values as much as 10 percent. So if you have a $200,000 house on a lot with three mature trees, your property assessment might owe as much as $20,000 of its value to your trees.

More and more people are recognizing that trees serve many practical and aesthetic purposes. As the emphasis on urban plantings increases, so does the need for better understanding tree stress. All tree species, whether native or exotic, are constantly being evaluated for their ability to thrive in urban and suburban environments.

After all, just buying a tree and planting it is not enough. You must also maintain it and ensure that it fits into your total landscape to have it fully appreciate. To help you care for your trees, here’s a list of Do’s and Don’ts.

Tree Do’s:

• Do consider types of trees that are sturdy and resistant to problems. Many urban and suburban locations are detrimental to trees because of water, light, and wind extremes. Soil and air temperatures are higher in urban areas. Deicing salts, and aerial and soil borne pollutants also cause lots of damage. An example of a less desirable species is a Bradford pear which has a tendency to split and has high maintenance needs.

• Do plant trees in a pit at least twice the diameter of the root ball. Preparing a wide hole for planting is more important than a deep hole. Most feeder roots – which are critical for absorbing nutrients and water – exist in the upper twelve inches of soil. Till the soil in a wide ring around the hole to promote root development.

• Do plant the tree with the root flare at the soil line. (This is where the roots begin to grow away from the trunk.)

• Do handle trees by the root ball, not the trunk, and don’t let roots dry out. Give the tree plenty of water via a deep soaking once a week

• Do mulch around your trees. Just a two to three-inch layer helps to hold in moisture, adds organic matter to the soil, and protects the trunk from lawn equipment.

• Do look at your property from several different angles to see how to best frame your home and highlight its best features with trees. To soften the hard lines of your house without overwhelming it, plant trees that will not grow more than two-thirds the height of the house. Place the center of the trees beyond the corners. Then fill in with other plants for foundation landscaping of varying heights that will draw your eye to the architectural element you want to show off.

Tree Don’ts:

• Don’t backfill tree planting holes with poor quality soil. Backfill the pit with the hole’s original soil or mix it with loose topsoil and discard any rocks or debris. Make sure to take away the displaced soil instead of piling it around the tree.

• Don’t leave packing material attached to roots. Remove the tree from its container and remove wire baskets, burlap (at least on the sides) and twine from the root ball.

• Don’t girdle your tree – this can kill it. Girdling is any activity that injures the bark of a tree. This is often caused by using lawnmowers and weed trimmers too close to tree trunks.

• Don’t smother your landscaping. Give it room to grow. Plant in areas at least five to eight feet wide and place everything with centers three or more feet from the walls of the house.

The intangible benefits of trees are great. Their tangible benefits can mean extra cash in your pocket when you sell your home or apply for a home equity loan.