City Skyline, Park and Boating Lake

A couple in a boat paddle through a park lake with a city skyline in the background.

Trees help cool the environment, working as a simple and effective way to reduce urban heat islands. Deciduous shade trees cool homes in the summer and allow the winter sun to heat homes when they lose their leaves. Trees intercept water, store some of it and reduce stormwater runoff.

By utilizing their leaves to filter the air we breathe, trees remove dust and other particles while absorbing carbon dioxide and various other pollutants such as ozone, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide.

City trees can reduce glare and reflection, direct pedestrian traffic, and enhance architecture. Trees bring natural elements and wildlife habitats into urban surroundings, all of which increase the quality of life for residents in the community.

Well-maintained trees can add value to a home. The property values of landscaped homes are generally 5-20% higher. Homes shaded by trees traditionally have lower air conditioning costs; while heating cost can be reduced when the landscape has trees that serve as a windbreak for the home.