Money Does Grow On Trees!
We all want to save money, but sometimes we forget that there are many different ways to be frugal. I know I go shopping and make an effort to be more cost efficient and energy efficient. I purchase products for inside the home, and sometimes overlook how plants and trees can do this for outside of the home. It's important to be reminded from time to time how much of a help trees really are. Here are 4 ways trees will put those bills back into your wallet.
• Increase Your Property Value - A tree in front of a house increases the home’s sale price by an average of $7,130. Plus, good landscaping increases the value of homes by 6 to 11 percent. (PNW Research Station and Michigan University)
• Reduce Your Energy Bills - Strategically placed trees save up to 56 percent on annual air-conditioning costs. Likewise, in winter, trees, especially evergreens, placed appropriately around the house, can reduce the need for heating by 20 to 50 percent. (USDA Forest Service)
• Sell Your Home In A Snap - Homeowners achieved a 109 percent return on every landscaping dollar spent – higher than any other home improvement. The presence of street trees also reduces time on the market by an average of 1.7 days (Michigan University and PNW Research Station)
•Your Tree Never Stops Giving Back - Over a span of 50 years, one tree produces $31,250 worth of oxygen, provides $62,000 worth of air pollution control, recycles $37,500 worth of water and controls $31,250 worth of soil erosion. (The Trust for Public Land)
Invest Your Money & Plant That Tree
Plant a tree this Arbor day! Grab your shovel, some fresh new soil and dig in! According to Davey Tree, the key to success is picking the right tree and the right spot. Here are some easy tips to get you started. Don't forget that simply looking at trees can reduce stress within just 5 minutes.
•A Tree That Provides Shade - Choose a tree that provides shade. Deciduous trees with large spreads of dense foliage add sun protection and provide better coverage during sunny summers.
• The Right Location - Plant it on the east, west or northwest side of your home to grow shade that protects from the summer sun and reduces air-conditioning costs. Avoid planting too close to your house, as shade trees have large roots that can damage your home’s foundation.
• Add Some Height - Plant trees that grow 30’ tall at least 10’ from your house’s foundation and away from utility lines. Those that grow 30-70’ tall should be planted 15’ from the foundation and lines, and trees growing 70’ and taller should be planted 20’ from the foundation and lines. If you aren’t sure where to plant, contact a certified arborist to help select the perfect spot.
Let’s Celebrate!
Let's celebrate the importance of trees! Saving money and making a difference is cause enough to do a little dance. This day is certainly a special day filled with importance and tree planting. If you want to really jump up and down, learn how you can save $25 dollars or more a year. Infographic provided by Davey Tree.
A Little History
J. Sterling Morton founded Arbor Day back in 1872. Today, all 50 states and even other countries recognize and celebrate Arbor Day! You can learn more about Arbor Day and how you can get involved by visiting arborday.org. If you can't physically plant a tree today, you can donate, become a member, or even gift a tree to someone you love.
We All Value Trees
I reached out to some of my fellow gardeners and homesteaders to see what kind of trees they are growing. It's amazing to see all the different varieties and different ways growing trees can be a memorable experience for us all. Here are a few fun examples below!
Beth of More Than Oregano - Located in Minnesota
Several years ago, Beth planted a Serviceberry tree that reaps big rewards every spring through summer. Her tree flowers in April, and can handle the tough Midwest spring weather. This compact sized tree fits wonderfully in smaller landscapes. It provides a resting spot for songbirds and berries for larger birds in her yard. It also acts as a support later in the summer for vines and climbing roses. It never need spraying, and occasionally she will trim the branches to keep it tidy. She enjoys how it is pretty much maintenance free!
She took these photos on April 27, 2017. Can you believe it snowed? She says that it doesn't even faze her Serviceberry!
Click here to learn more about the Serviceberry tree.
Linda of Life and Linda - Located in California
Linda saved this tree! It is a Maple tree that was planted near her house and Koi pond. They had to move it due to construction, and now it is happy in a new spot! She enjoys many different kinds of trees on her 26 acres of land. I'm already working on getting a plane ticket so I can come visit! How lovely does that sound?
Click here to read more about the Maple tree.
Jen of Frau Zinnie - Located in Connecticut
Jen's love of pear trees was passed down from her grandfather. He came to America from Germany in the 1930's. He built a house in Queens, and planted a pear tree. She remembers fondly how it had the best tasting fruit. When she was ready to purchase her own home, she knew she wanted to plant a pear tree just like him. She came across a photo of a tree that looked like those delicious pears that filled her childhood memories. She bought two trees, and they turned not to be the same kind her grandfather had grown. She is pretty sure he would grow Bartlett pears and would allow them to get very ripe before picking.
She still enjoys her trees growing in her yard. The pears ended up being Kieffer pears which are better for cooking and baking. She is a certified pastry chef, so it ended up working out in her advantage. You can check out her mouth-watering pear recipes here. She said she wouldn't trade her trees for anything, and she continues to spread her love of pear trees to educate people just like me!
Click here to read more about the Kieffer Pear tree.
Lisa of Feathers In The Woods - Located in Pennsylvania
Lisa's favorite tree is the Weeping Cherry tree. She was lucky and inherited one that came with the house she purchased. She wasn't sure if she liked the look of the tree, but once it bloomed she fell in love! She shares some interesting facts about this variety and how to care for it here.
Click here to learn more about the Cherry tree.
Tracy & Bill of Plants Map - Located in Virginia
Tracy's favorite tree is the Franklin tree. She first became familiar with it as a forester in Durand Park located in Rochester, New York. You can read more about this tree here. She also loves the Black Gum tree. Tracy and Bill have a beautiful yard filled with different trees, plants, conifers and even a pond! You can check out her gardens and more over on Plants Map! For Bill, the Dawn Redwood tree is one of his favorites. It has grown over 15 feet in just 3 years! Read more about this tree here. They also have another Dawn Redwood cleverly nicknamed the 'photo-opp' tree. Take a look at it here.
Click here to learn more about the Franklin tree.
Click here to learn more about the Dawn Redwood tree.
Kris of Growing Wild Roots - Located in British Columbia, Canada
Kris has made a lasting memory for her daughter. She planted a multi-grafted apple tree the spring after she was born. As her daughter grows older, the tree continues to thrive! The first Earth Day in their new home, Kris and her husband transplanted Maple saplings. It's so lovely to celebrate nature and have those happy memories!
Click here to read more about Apple trees.
Click here to read more about the Maple tree.
Jami of An Oregon Cottage - Located in Oregon
Jami shared with me this gorgeous Crabapple tree in bloom. The gorgeous tree caught her eye, and she couldn't help but snap a pic! It has always been one of my favorite trees, and I'm hoping to plant a bunch of them in the future. 
Click here to read more about the Crabapple tree.
Marianne - Located in Georgia
Marianne lives in a house built in the 1950s. Sitting in the backyard is this old Pecan tree. When she purchased the home, the tree was covered in English ivy and overgrown Privet. She needed to go to extreme measures to get rid of the pesky Privet. We are talking chain saw here! It took a strong person to dig out some roots. She cleared out around it and around the azalea bushes nearby. A little hard work makes a big difference in any yard!
Click here to read more about the Pecan tree.
Diane of Homemade Food Junkie - Located in Washington State
Diane has a breathtaking Black Walnut tree in her backyard that stuns in the fall. Along with her beautiful gardens, she has a bunch of fully loaded apple trees in her yard! She makes yummy recipes with them like apple pie cheesecake, apple crisp, apple caramel cake and applesauce just to name a few. You can read about her homemade apple chips here.
Click here to read more about the Black Walnut tree.
Mary Jane of Home For The Harvest - Located in British Columbia, Canada
When Mary Jane went to go purchase some trees, there was a limited availability of specialty trees where she lives. All the trees that were available locally were very expensive. She decided to order some online. She had a positive experience with it, and it worked out really well! Starting bare-root trees can seem daunting to us newbies. Luckily, she has written a great guide with her personal experience described in detail. She even included a free printable to make it easy for us to give it a try! You can read more about it here.
Planting her bare-root tree.
Michelle of Simplify, Live, Love - Iowa
Michelle has been through it all when it comes to trees. She has had to say goodbye to her favorite tree and even planted a small orchard on her 5 acres of land. Through the ups and downs of dealing with nature, her landscape continues to grow and thrive with life! 
Mandi of Our Life Out Here - Oklahoma
Mandi is a wife, mom and daily chicken wrangler! She is a homesteader with those day to day tasks of caring for the animals and the nature around her. She is fascinated with the story of the American Chestnut tree. It has been called the most important tree in American history. There is also a limited supply of them, and throughout history have been very valuable. Read more here.
Click here to learn more about the American Chestnut tree.
Patti of Hearth & Vine - Pennsylvania
Patti gets to experience a gorgeous fall filled with leaves changing to amber, burgundy and yellows every year! In her area, Sugar Maples and Dogwood trees are common and grow strong. She shares that Sugar Maples can grow over 50 feet tall. If you are looking for a more manageable tree when it comes to size, she recommends the Dogwood or the Crabapple. You can read more here.
Click here to learn more about the Sugar Maple tree.
Click here to learn more about the Indian Magic Crabapple tree.
Julie of Garden Delights - South Carolina
Julie is a a fabulous organic gardener, lover of all things nature and a mom of three. It's fitting that her beautiful daughter has a special tree she refers to as the 'birthday tree'. I absolutely adore how, as her daughter has grown, so has the tree. You can see the transformation in the collage below!
Click here to learn more about the Autumnalis Cherry tree.
Now that you have seen how trees have positively impacted so many lives in so many different locations, it's time to get out there and plant that tree! Arbor Day is the perfect time! Many nurseries hold special sales with great prices for this special occasion, so get out there and shop around. Who knows what you will find! Even if you can't get out today, start planning. Plant one this weekend, this summer or even this fall! No matter the size of the tree, you are making a difference. Happy planting everyone!
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17 Comments
Sue Donaldson
May 8, 2017 at 4:02 pmWonderful! I will look into that crabapple tree!
Umberta
May 5, 2017 at 2:42 amInteresting post, I really enjoyed it! & nice pics too! I wish I had a garden at my place 😉