Trees are Property Heroes
I love trees. My science teacher, Mr. Huffman, used to walk us around the neighborhood surrounding North High School and teach us to identify tree species. I have been a tree guy ever since. At Purdue I took dendrology (the study of tree classification) and learned 120 species by bark, bud, and twig. Talk about a deep dive. I loved it so much. My all time favorite class.
As a teacher I did for my students exactly what Mr. Huffman did for my peers and I: walk them around, stop and visit the trees in our surroundings, teach them the key features of the tree, their common and scientific names, and their most beneficial uses. Lots and lots of students have, over the years, reported that it was their favorite part of the courses I taught. It certainly was for me.
Fast forward to my current career in real estate and nothing has changed. I love discovering what trees are on a property and pointing them out to my clients. While trees may be an afterthought for many in the homebuying process, they add real value to a home. In addition to the aesthetic appeal of a tree planted in a yard with intention, trees offer many more benefits. I’ll discuss just a few below.
Shade. A deciduous tree, or one that loses leaves each season, can provide energy saving cooling. Planted on the south side of the house, the house will be cooled in the summer by the tree’s canopy. In the winter, when passive solar warmth is a benefit, the leaves are gone and sunlight can pour through. For seventeen years my family lived on Sycamore Street and we had a massive Pin Oak (Quercus palustris) on the south side of our house. It was honestly my very favorite thing about the property. In a neighborhood tragedy, the tree fell down in a big storm last fall. The neighborhood just isn’t the same without it.
Windblock. Evergreen trees such as pines, spruces and firs, when planted on the west side of a house, provide a wind block against the bitterly cold winds out of the northwest in winter. These strategically placed trees can block the winds that produce drafts and cold walls and rooms. At that same house on Sycamore Street, a massive White Pine (Pinus strobus) still stands. Evergreens are softer woods and that means they can break under heavy winds or branches burdened with ice, but their flexibility also allows them to bend with the wind. Still, I’m surprised the pine outlasted the oak.
Absorption of water. We all know that water is the enemy of houses and the root systems of trees are enormous sponges. Mr. Huffman taught us the concept of root- leaf balance, which means that the radius of a tree’s canopy is roughly equal to the radius of the root system. Pretty amazing when you think of it. Climate change presents many challenges, and it’s not all about drought. We’ve seen a busy flood year so far this year, and absorption of heavy rain or flood water requires trees. Bare yards have but a thin root layer of a few inches– not enough to absorb heavy rainfall. Trees are a part of the solution.
All of this is to say that trees have tons of utilitarian value. But at the end of the day, trees are beautiful, awe inspiring, homes for wildlife, great spots to nap or read, support structures for tire swings and tree houses, and inspiration for artists and writers. If you would like to know the monetary value that a tree in your yard contributes to your property, check out this Tree Benefit Calculator. It is an eye opening tool!
So, when you call me for a property tour, don’t be surprised if I am pointing out the tree species on a parcel. Call me today at (812) 552- 9013 for a property tour/ dendrology lesson.