By Ashlynn Fleming and Sara Robertson
Trees provide us with a lot of benefits. Some of them, like providing shade, habitat for wildlife, or aesthetic value, are widely recognized and common reasons people choose to plant and continue to care for trees. Other benefits though, can be less noticeable. For example, did you know that there are economic savings associated with having trees in your neighbourhood?
Here we’ll dive into some of the specific ways that trees provide financial benefits!
4 Ways Trees Can Save You Money
1. Energy Savings
One of the most direct ways tree can save us money is by reducing energy use in the summer and winter. In 2018, a review of energy conservation from trees in North America(1) found that deciduous trees planted on the western or southern side of your home can provide enough shade to lower summer cooling bills by up to 10%. They also found that in the winter, evergreen trees on the northern side can cut heating costs by around 3% by acting as windbreaks. Careful placement – 10-15 meters from your house for deciduous trees and 10-50 meters for evergreens – can maximize these benefits while avoiding potential conflicts with structures.
2. Food Production
While many people don’t think about neighbourhood trees as a food source for humans, some species can reduce grocery costs by providing fruits, nuts and other edible treats. Some examples from our native tree varieties include mature serviceberries, which can produce 10 pounds of fruit annually that can be used in jams, preserves, and wine. Similarly, mature basswood trees can provide up to 40 pounds of nectar, collected by bees during pollination, which can equate to roughly 7 pounds of honey by late summer. Other foods like Canada plums, pawpaw fruit, crab apples, walnuts, and maple syrup can also be produced by trees commonly found in southern Ontario! With the right soil conditions, time, and care, trees can be a great food source for not just wildlife, but people too.
3. Infrastructure Longevity
Trees can also help to reduce long-term maintenance costs around your property. The shade that they provide helps to lower temperatures on paved surfaces like driveways and patios, extending the lifespan of these features by reducing heat-related damage and cracking(2). Tree canopy can protect pavement from rain and stormwater too, by intercepting and slowing rain drops as they fall, which can prevent damage from washouts and reduce maintenance costs(3). While concerns about tree root damaging infrastructure and thus adding costs are common, most of these issues can be prevented through proper species and planting location selection. Further, tree roots help stabilize soil, lowering rates of erosion which can be particularly helpful on sloped or hilly landscapes.
4. Property Value
Trees have also been shown to increase residential property values. One study estimates that in six years after planting a tree, the value of a property can increase by hundreds of dollars per tree, essentially paying for itself(4). Older, more mature trees, on the other hand, can each increase property value by thousands of dollars depending on where you live(4). The aesthetic appeal of trees is one of the main drivers of this increase in property value, but all the other benefits that trees provide help too!
When we talk about the correlation between trees and property value, it is important to acknowledge that the financial benefits of trees, including increased property values, have historically not been shared equitably between neighbourhoods. Many municipalities are now incorporating an equity lens into their urban forest management to help alleviate these disparities. For example, the City of Kitchener is a leader amongst Canadian cities in this regard, by setting a 30% tree canopy cover target for each ward by 2050, rather than a more typical city-wide target. This helps ensure that all neighbourhoods will have more equal access to the benefits that trees provide. These targets are based loosely on the 3-30-300 rule in urban forestry, which states that to adequately access the social and environmental benefits trees provide, everyone should be able to see at least 3 trees from their home, have 30% tree canopy cover in their neighbourhood, and live no more than 300 meters from a park or greenspace(5).
By ensuring trees are planted more equitably across cities, not just in areas with higher incomes or existing canopy cover, program’s like Reep’s Community Canopy initiative work to help all communities access the economic, social, and environmental benefits of trees.
But Don't Trees Cost Money to Look After?
Caring for trees, including through preventative maintenance, is not without cost. Hiring an arborist to prune or remove large trees can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars, especially when problems go unnoticed for long periods of time. However, there are many ways to minimize these costs, and it starts with planting the right species in the right location. Here are some of Reep’s tree planting tips to help minimize future costs associated with trees:
- Choose a native tree species that is better adapted to your region’s climate – they typically require less watering.
- Check your soil – different species do better or worse in different soil types, which can affect the amount of pruning they may need and their longevity.
- Leave enough room between your tree and buildings, paved surfaces, and other trees to prevent conflicts and damage.
Another way to minimize long-term costs is to have an ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) certified arborist preventatively care for your trees as they mature. Being proactive with tree care, which includes regular pruning and inspecting your tree for signs of damage or infection, can help prevent existing problems from worsening, which reduces safety concerns while increasing tree stability and longevity.
Ensuring that this work is done correctly is crucial, which is why it is important to hire an ISA certified arborist, who has demonstrated a high level of knowledge in caring for and maintaining trees. To find an ISA certified arborist in your area, check out this tool from the ISA: Find an Arborist.
To learn more about how Reep supports proactive tree care, check out our Tree Trust program.
Ultimately, having a tree in your yard isn’t just good for the environment, it’s good for you wallet too. If you’re looking to plant a tree in your yard and aren’t sure about the best species or location to minimize future costs, Reep is happy to help through our Backyard Tree Planting program!
Citations from the Research Studies about the Economic Benefits that Trees Provide
(1) Ko, Y. (2018). Trees and vegetation for resdiential energy conservation: A critical review for evidence-based urban greening in North America. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening, 34, 318-335. https://doi.org.10.1016/j.ufug.2018.07.021.
(2) McPherson, E.G., Muchnick, J. (2005). Effects of street tree shade on asphalt concrete pavement performance. Journal of Arboriculture, 31(6), 303-310.
(3) United States Enviromental Protection Agency. (2016). Stormwater Trees: Technical Memorandum. https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2016-11/documents/final_stormwater_trees_technical_memo_508.pdf.
(4) Escobedo, F.J., Adams, D.C., Timilsina, N. (2015). Urban forest structure effects on property value. Ecosystem Services, 12, 209-217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2014.05.002.
