![2017ST6[1]](https://theridgewoodblog.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2017ST61.png "April as Tree Planting Month in the Village and April 27, 2018 as Arbor Day")
photo courtesy of Ridgewood Parks and Rec
April 9,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, With Arbor Day right around the corner on April 27, let’s take this opportunity to discuss planting trees. The benefits of planting trees extend environmentally, economically, and socially.
Trees improve air quality by filtering harmful dust and pollutants such as ozone, carbon monoxide, and sulfur from the air while also releasing oxygen .
In a tree census, or urban forestry assessment, done by the Morton Arboretum in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service, trees of the seven-county Chicago region remove approximately 18,080 tons of carbon from the air each year. For more information on the census, follow the link here.
Trees reduce the amount of stormwater runoff, reducing erosion and pollution in our waterways .
Trees serve as homes for wildlife, and provide them with other resources that they need .
Appropriately placed trees can reduce your cooling costs in the summer by shading the south and west sides of your home .
According to “Urban Trees and Forests of the Chicago Region” done by The Morton Arboretum and U.S. Forest Service, the trees of the Chicago region reduce residential energy costs by about 44 million per year. To view the census, follow the link here.
Trees have the potential to increase residential and commercial property values by improving the appeal of the local area .
Trees can separate and define space, providing a sense of privacy, solitude, and security .Studies have identified a direct correlation between the amount of trees and grass in community common spaces and the use of those common spaces by residents, which leads to more opportunities for informal social interaction and greater relationships between neighbors .