A Trees Value

Trees could be considered the basis of life. Not only do they help sustain human life, but they also hold their own elegance and beauty not to mention personal value.


First of all, trees are constantly are pulling in our harmful pollutants from the air as well as carbon dioxide. Al of this is recycled back into oxygen for humans and animals alike to breathe. With today's planet inundated with more carbon dioxide than every from cars, coal processing plants and factories, having a natural way to convert this pollution into something healthy is important. Not only do we need the air to breathe but pollutants such as carbon dioxide are known to be responsible for blending with the atmosphere and creating what we know today as the green house effect. The green house effect allows more and more harmful ultraviolet rays to beat down on our earth's surface. In result, the climate gets hotter, which creates a chain reaction such as the melting of polar ice caps at an alarming rate.

As scientists look into fixing the earth's atmosphere, one of their most important cures includes the replanting of trees all around the world. This replanting has even earned its own holiday and is called Arbor Day. In the end, the planting of these seedlings has caused many green house emissions to turn into pure clean air.


If scientific reasons aren't important enough to call a tree valuable, how about its historic context? The tree has been around since the beginning of time, possibly even before humans were on the earth. A tree's value has been so important that they have been told in stories such as how the tree played a role in the biblical Garden of Eden or even how trees played roles in mythological tales. In American history, a story has been told for centuries about the famous Johnny Appleseed, who was said to have planted apple trees for miles around, possible helping the pioneers settle into new lands with the promise of the sweet fruit of the tree to guide their way.

The tree itself can also tell a story, that is one of historic droughts or floods. By examining the rings within a tree, scientists can detect whether there has been significant climate changes throughout time or even catastrophic events.

Because of a tree's value, one can often read how a tree is used metaphorically to represent life, death and growth. The term tree is used to represent one's ancestors in their family, such as the family tree.

Are trees the basis of life? If not, they certainly play a huge role.

Andrew Johnson is the owner of Central Texas Tree Care, a leading tree service provider in Central Texas (Travis County and surrounding areas) offering services such as pruning and removals, cabling and bracing as well as arborist reports, diagnostics, pest management, fertilization and Austin tree service trusts. For more information please visit http://www.centraltexastreecare.com.

The Makings of a Tree

Most learn about trees in grade school, but how many remember its anatomy and the fascinating complexity of what contributes to a tree's health. For those of you who can't remember, here they are:

Branches - Most know what a branch is, but did you know they are attached to the tree by interlocking branch and trunk tissue? Each year, a new layer of interlocking tissue is produced covering the previous year's layers. A woody branch collar, produced by the trunk, holds the branch base. A branch will grow in diameter until it runs out of room. Leaves on every branch must produce enough food to feed itself. Food does not move from roots or other branches to supply a starving branch. Branches unable to support themselves are sealed off. Branches on the interior of a shade tree that do not receive adequate light will die and eventually fall.

Roots - A tree's roots are important and to keep the tree healthy roots need an adequate amount of oxygen and moisture. Most active tree roots are in the top 3 feet of soil; the majority is in the top 12 inches. The more compacted or poorly drained the soil the closer the roots are to the soil surface. A tree's roots will grow most of the year, stopping only when soil temperatures are cold. A tree has perennial woody roots and annual absorbing roots. Woody roots become thicker each year. The absorbing roots die but are replaced by new absorbing roots. Annual absorbing roots form shallow, horizontal fans that take-up water and nutrients. A few woody support roots grow downward and outward to anchor the tree in place. Most trees do not have a deep taproot. While a taproot may develop on trees growing in the woods in well-drained soils, they generally do not develop on trees transplanted into the landscape or on trees grown in compacted or poorly drained soil.

Roots can grow outward to about three times the width of the branch spread but only 50 percent of the root system occurs between the trunk and the dripline. The foliage of a tree is supplied by the roots on the same side. If a tree begins to wither on one side, it can often be due to the roots on that same side being injured. With some trees, such as maple, the effect may develop anywhere in the tree canopy.

Tree roots tend to avoid each other when young, but as they grow they may be forced together and from a graft union. These grafts can conduct diseases from one tree to another.


Leaves - Leaves are the food factories of the tree. Sunlight creates chlorophyll within the leaves. This along with carbon dioxide and water produce life-sustaining carbohydrates through a process called photosynthesis. Leaves are also responsible for respiration and transpiration. The lobes, leaflets and jagged edges of many broad leaves have their uses, too. They help evaporate the water used in food-building, reduce wind resistance and even provide "drip tips" to shed rain that, left standing, could decay the leaf. Besides its branches, roots, and leaves, a mature tree grows another important structure - the flower (or cone, in the case of evergreens). These are the reproductive structures from which the seeds are produced.

While a tree's components may seem basic, its anatomy is actually quite complex and an amazing illustration of nature at its best.

Andrew Johnson is the owner of Central Texas Tree Care, a leading tree service provider in Central Texas (Travis County and surrounding areas) offering services such as pruning and removals, cabling and bracing as well as arborist reports, diagnostics, pest management, fertilization and Austin tree service trusts. For more information please visit http://www.centraltexastreecare.com.

Trees Social and Economical Value

When we think of trees, we think of their beauty or their environmental benefits, what few of us realize is their benefits to our well being or even how they can help us financially. Yes financially. It has been proven that trees can actually increase property values. Why? Possibly because of all their social benefits, the way they help cool our homes and save us energy or break up the wind, keeping our homes warmer in the winter.

So now you may be asking, how are trees beneficially helpful to our well-being? To start,
imagine your community without trees? Any trees at all. It is difficult. Do you have trees at your place of work? The University of Cambridge did a study on job satisfaction of employees of business with a view of trees from their office. They found that these employees suffered from fewer diseases than workers without a view of trees.

Trees are helpful to children who suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD. Kids with ADHD have been proven to be calmer, more responsive, and better able to concentrate when in a space with lots of trees.

Knowing how trees add to the environment and well-being of others, having a tree on your property can increase its value by 9 percent. Statistics show that homes with trees are also more attractive to visitors, potential buyers, and neighbors. Neighborhoods with lots of trees also report less crime!

Here are some quick facts on how trees are valuable economically and socially:

• Research shows that shoppers in well-landscaped business districts are willing to pay more for parking and up to 12% more for goods and services.
• Landscaping, especially with trees, can significantly increase property values. Here is one example: A value of 9% ($15,000) was determined in a U.S. Tax Court case for the loss of a large black oak on a property valued at $164,500.
• Trees reduce runoff and erosion from storms by about 7% and reduce the need for erosion control structures. In urban areas with trees, the use of smaller drainpipes can save cities on materials, installation and maintenance.
• Desk workers with and without views of nature were surveyed. Those without views of nature, when asked about 11 different ailments, claimed 23% more incidence of illness in the prior 6 months.
• Amenity and comfort ratings were about 80% higher for a tree-lined sidewalk compared with those for a nonshaded street. Quality of products ratings were 30% higher in districts having trees over those with barren sidewalks.
• In the United States over 200 million cubic yards of urban tree and landscape residue are generated every year.26 Of the 200 million cubic yards of urban tree and landscape residue, 15% is classified as "unchipped logs." If these logs were sawn into boards, they theoretically would produce 3.8 billion board feet of lumber, or nearly 30% of the hardwood lumber produced annually in the United States.
• Views of nature reduce the stress response of both body and mind when stressors of urban conditions are present.
• Trees in urban parks and recreation areas are estimated to improve outdoor leisure and recreation experiences in the United States by $2 billion per year.
• Trees reduce crime. Apartment buildings with high levels of greenery had 52% fewer crimes than those without any trees. Buildings with medium amounts of greenery had 42% fewer crimes.
• Hospital patients recovering from surgery who had a view of a grove of trees through their windows required fewer pain relievers, experienced fewer complications, and left the hospital sooner than similar patients who had a view of a brick wall.
• Americans travel about 2.3 billion miles per day on urban freeways and highways. Studies show drivers exposed to roadside nature scenes had a greater ability to cope with driving stresses.
• Symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children are relieved after contact with nature. Specifically, ADHD kids are better able to concentrate, complete tasks, and follow directions after playing in natural settings. The greener the setting, the more relief.
• Trees help girls succeed. On average, the greener a girl’s view from home, the better she concentrates and the better her self-discipline, enabling her to make more thoughtful choices and do better in school.
• Trees and forests in urban areas convey serenity and beauty along a number of sensory dimensions, often surrounding the individual with nature in an environment where natural things are at a premium.

Trees are essential to the life of our planet and our own personal well-being – and if that isn’t good enough, they are economically beneficial as well.

Andrew Johnson is the owner of Central Texas Tree Care, a leading tree service provider in Central Texas (Travis County and surrounding areas) offering services such as pruning and removals, cabling and bracing as well as arborist reports, diagnostics, pest management, fertilization and Austin tree service trusts. For more information please visit http://www.centraltexastreecare.com.

Trees and the Environment

We have all heard about how trees help the environment, but do we know how exactly? Metaphorically, trees are like the lungs of the planet. They breathe in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen. What does this mean?

Carbon Dioxide or CO2 is one of the major contributing elements to the greenhouse effect. Trees trap CO2 from the atmosphere. Studies have shown that urban forests of the U.S store 800 million tons of. Mature trees can absorb roughly 48 pounds of CO2 a year. The tree in turn releases enough oxygen to sustain two human beings.

In urban areas, trees can help reduce urban runoff and erosion by storing water and breaking the force of rain as it falls. The United States Department of Agriculture says that 100 mature trees can reduce runoff caused by rainfall by up to 100,000 gallons.

Trees have other benefits in urban areas as well. For one, they absorb sound and reduce thus noise pollution. If you live by a major freeway, you can appreciate sounds absorbed. Studies have shown that in some cases, a well planted group of trees can reduce noise pollution by up to 10 decibels.

For urban areas that are quite hot, such as Phoenix or Las Vegas, the addition of trees help shade asphalt and reduce what is called the “heat island” effect. Reducing heat is so important in regards to helping people save energy that the Environmental Protection Agency encourages cities to grow trees. To determine exactly how much energy is saved by a trees cooling effect, studies have shown that one tree is equivalent to 10 room-size air conditioners running 20 hours a day.

Trees aren’t only beneficial for warm climates and summer heat. In the winter, they can act as windbreaks for your home and help you save on heating costs. The Journal of Horticulture claims that saving on heating costs can reach as much as 25 percent!

What are some other quick facts regarding trees and how they save energy and help the environment? Here are a few:

• As few as three trees properly positioned can save the average household between $100 and $250 annually in energy costs.
• Fifty million shade trees planted in strategic, energy-saving locations could eliminate the need for seven 100-megawatt power plants.
• Shade from two large trees on the west side of a house and one on the east side can save up to 30% of a typical residence’s annual air conditioning costs.
• Annual benefits provided by parking lot trees in Sacramento, California,(8.1% tree shade) were valued at approximately $700,000 for improved air quality. By increasing shade to 50% in all parking lots in Sacramento, the annual benefits will increase to $4 million.
• Rows of trees reduce wind speed by up to about 85%, with maximum reductions increasing in proportion to visual density. Because even a single row of dense conifers can cause large reductions in wind speed, effective windbreaks can be planted on relatively small house lots. Compared with an open area, a good windbreak that does not shade the house will save about 15% of the heat energy used in a typical home.
• Modest increases of 10% canopy cover in the New York City Area were shown to reduce peak ozone levels by up to 4 parts per billion or by nearly 3% of the maximum and 37% of the amount by which the area exceeded its air quality standard. Similar results were found in Los Angeles and along the East Coast from Baltimore to Boston.8
• Leafy tree canopies catch precipitation before it reaches the ground, allowing some of it to gently drip and the rest to evaporate. This lessens the force of storms and reduces runoff and erosion. Research indicates that 100 mature tree crowns intercept about 100,000 gallons of rainfall per year, reducing runoff and providing cleaner water.
• Trees reduce noise pollution by absorbing sounds. A belt of trees 98 feet wide and 49 feet tall can reduce highway noise by 6 to 10 decibels.
• Trees in Davis, California, parking lots reduced asphalt temperatures by as much as 36 degrees Fahrenheit, and car interior temperatures by over 47 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Philadelphia's 2.1 million trees currently store approximately 481,000 metric tons of carbon with an estimated value of $9.8 million.
• A typical community forest of 10,000 trees will retain approximately 10 million gallons of rainwater per year.

Andrew Johnson is the owner of Central Texas Tree Care, a leading tree service provider in Central Texas (Travis County and surrounding areas) offering services such as pruning and removals, cabling and bracing as well as arborist reports, diagnostics, pest management, fertilization and Austin tree service trusts. For more information please visit http://www.centraltexastreecare.com.

Trees and Invasive species

If you are trying to grow the perfect tree, or at least a healthy and beautiful tree, battling invasive species or potential invasive species can be a challenge.

An invasive species, also called a pathogen, can infect a tree anywhere from the stem to the branches and quickly kill the bark in a spreading canker. These pathogens reproduce rapidly with a huge a numbers of spores. The spores can be shot into the air and carried by the wind, or carried by the splash of a raindrop, a bird or insect.

Non-native, invasive species constitute one of the greatest economic and environmental challenges in the history of the United States natural and managed ecosystems. Non-native plants and plant pests cost more than $100 billion per year in crop and timber losses plus the expense of herbicides and pesticides. Types of invasive species include:
* chestnut blight * sudden oak death * white pine blister rust * beech bark disease * dutch elm disease * butternut canker * Port-Orford-Cedar root disease * dogwood anthracnose

It is difficult to recognize tree diseases because the organisms responsible are small and not easily detected in the early disease stages. Once a problem is recognized, the disease is often in an advanced stage, limiting an arborist’s treatment options. Some diseases can kill trees in a short period of time (oak wilt infections); others are long-term chronic diseases (nectria canker).

Some diseases do not usually cause serious damage to trees (powdery mildew), while others can virtually eliminate an entire tree species (chestnut blight, Dutch elm disease). Harmful, parasitic bacteria cause a number of plant diseases. Damage from bacteria can be limited to leaves (shot hole disease) or the bacteria can infect and destroy the vascular system of the tree (bacterial leaf scorch), eventually causing tree death.

A tree owner may first notice a problem with their tree when leaves in a section of the crown begin showing signs of wilting or scorching. Arborists can pick up on more subtle clues. Often an upper portion of the crown shows signs first. With verticillium wilt, one limb or a group of limbs show signs of a problem before the rest of the tree. Other symptoms to look for include: trees of the same species that express themselves differently; wilting or scorching leaves; leaves smaller than normal in one section or the whole tree; early fall color in one section of the tree or the whole tree; dieback of twigs and limbs; reduced shoot growth; leaf discoloration; stress-induced production of numerous small cones or fruit of poor quality; and heavy resin or gum flows.

Extensive dieback and death can occur rapidly in the case of Dutch elm disease, oak wilt of red oaks, or blue-stain wilt of shortleaf and loblolly pines. In the case of bacterial leaf scorch, oak wilt of white oaks, and verticillium wilt, damage occurs more slowly and often can be controlled. When a tree has been infected, a professional arborist can assess treatment protocols and advise techniques for mitigating damage or avoiding a repeat of the infection.

Of course, the best way to avoid tree diseases is to keep trees healthy, which makes them less susceptible. Insects that spread diseases are attracted to trees that are stressed and have a weakened defense system.

A professional arborist can assess and maintain a landscape, ensuring proper soil fertility and watering practices to promote plant health and minimize the effects of stress on plants. Arborists can also help diagnose and mitigate other causes of poor growth or decline, such as poor site conditions or mechanical, environmental, and chemical injuries.

Like anything, sometimes it is important to call in a professional to help and this includes tree disease as well.

Andrew Johnson is the owner of Central Texas Tree Care, a leading tree service provider in Central Texas (Travis County and surrounding areas) offering services such as pruning and removals, cabling and bracing as well as arborist reports, diagnostics, pest management, fertilization and Austin tree service trusts. For more information please visit http://www.centraltexastreecare.com.