Nature's Edge - Benefits of Trees - September 2008

Lincolnshire is known for its beautiful forested residential area and its pristine natural areas. In addition to making our community a beautiful place, our trees also protect us.

Trees remove pollution from the air. The leaf surfaces absorb or trap pollutants. The pollutants that are absorbed are broken down by gases inside the leaves. The pollutants that are trapped are simply collected on the leaf surface and later rinsed off by rain to the soil below. (Studies have shown that larger trees are more efficient in pollution removal than small trees – special care needs to be taken to ensure your mature trees are well cared for.)

Have you noticed that when you walk into a forest the temperature is cooler? Trees have the ability to lower the ambient temperature. This is accomplished when the leaves absorb or reflect light from the sun. In addition, trees reduce energy requirements for buildings. During the summer months, shade from trees will reduce the amount of heat getting to the building which will help to reduce the need for air conditioning. During the winter months, our trees block wind and cold reducing the need for heat.

Trees provide shade in our yards which helps to reduce the amount of water needed to keep our grass or perennials healthy in the hot summer months. They also help to absorb water so that less stormwater runs off into our streets and sewers.

Recent difficulties with Dutch Elm Disease and the possibility of Emerald Ash Borer make it imperative that we inventory our existing trees and determine what our future needs will be. Many of us have large numbers of ashes and elms on our properties. You may want to start now to plant other species of trees so that, by the time the ashes and elms are depleted, you have a new forest on the way. Another consideration is to plant trees that are more compatible with the change in climate. As our climate gets warmer tree species that were common in southern Illinois will be more common in the north.

A collaboration between the Chicago Botanic Garden, the Morton Arboretum and ChicagoLand Grows, Inc. has yielded plant and tree cultivars which are best suited to our region. If you visit the Morton Arboretum web site, you can learn how to select trees for your property based on your site conditions. In addition, the Chicagoland Grows website will provide you with a list of trees, shrubs and perennials that were developed for our region. These species are good performers. The elms listed on their tree list are resistant to Dutch Elm Disease.

Look to the future and how you can keep your trees growing and healthy so they in turn can keep you healthy!