There’s nothing like having a home surrounded by the soothing presence of greenery. Trees produce oxygen, give shade, and can make one feel incredibly peaceful. In addition, shrubs and bushes give your home a more inviting look, making it much easier to relax. Not only are shrubs and bushes aesthetically pleasing, but they can be a great way to save money on energy bills. If you’re a homeowner considering adding trees, bushes, and shrubs, read on to see some of the perks of doing so.
1. Improved Air Quality
Planting shrubs and bushes around your property increase the amount of oxygen in your environment. They also help improve air quality by trapping pollutants and dust particles. This can help reduce allergies, asthma, and other health issues caused by poor air quality. Better air quality can benefit everyone in your household and help to reduce medical bills. Take the time to enjoy your backyard or patio, knowing that the air you breathe is much cleaner thanks to your shrubs and bushes.
2. Increased Home Value
Many factors go into determining the property value, and landscaping is one of them. Having shrubs and bushes around your home can help with it. When potential buyers are deciding whether or not to purchase a home, they often factor in the amount of landscaping around it. High-quality greenery can make a home much more attractive and will increase its value significantly. Calling your local tree service to plant some gorgeous plants may give you an ROI of up to five times the cost of landscaping.
3. Pest Control
How can trees and other vegetation help with pest control? It’s simple! They provide shelter for predatory animals that eat smaller, bothersome pests. Such predators include birds, frogs, lizards, and friendlier insects like ladybugs. Additionally, some shrubs and trees have oils that can naturally repel certain pests. One such shrub that can do so is the Korean Spice Viburnum, which has a sweet fragrance that repels mosquitoes and other insects. Keeping these pests at bay will help you avoid the cost of pest removal. You can also protect your family from the health risks associated with such pests. Who wants to sit on their porch and enjoy the summer while being pestered by mosquitoes? Solve that problem with your local arborist.
4. Reduced Energy Costs
When you strategically plant trees and bushes around your property, you can benefit from the natural cooling and heating effects of plants. According to FirstEnergy Corp., planting deciduous trees and bushes on the east, west, and southwest sides of your home can reduce air-conditioning costs by up to 25%. They also help reduce fuel costs by providing shade in the summer and allowing sunlight to reach your home during cooler months. This can help to reduce energy bills and save you money year-round. A local tree service can help you figure out where and how to plant trees and bushes for maximum energy savings.
5. Noise Reduction
Living near a busy street or highway can be difficult, especially if you’re sensitive to noise. Planting trees and bushes around your property is an excellent way to reduce noise levels and create a quiet, peaceful atmosphere. Trees act as natural sound barriers by blocking out the sound waves from passing traffic or other sources of loud noise. Just think, you can enjoy the peace of your backyard without having to worry about the jarring sound of cars driving by.
6. Additional Privacy
Are you worried about nosy neighbors? Planting shrubs and trees around your property can help to provide additional privacy. Use bushes as a physical barrier between you and your neighbor’s property, while trees can act as a shield from prying eyes. Feel free to open your windows, or pull back the curtains and enjoy a view of nature while maintaining your privacy. With extra privacy and shade, you can enjoy a more peaceful outdoor environment.
7. Improved Soil Quality
If you want a healthy landscape, you must keep the soil in your yard healthy. Trees and bushes can help improve soil quality in a few different ways. They encourage microorganisms to grow, which helps to break down organic matter and create a healthier soil environment. Additionally, their extensive root systems can help to aerate the ground and reduce compaction, which helps to allow air and water to penetrate the soil more easily. Planting trees and bushes can make your lawn look better, and keep it healthy for years to come.
8. Reduced Stress and Improved Mental Health
Between work, family, and everyday life, it’s important to make time for yourself and relax. Spending time outdoors surrounded by trees and bushes can help reduce stress levels, improve mental clarity, and boost your mood. Studies have found that exposure to nature can reduce cortisol levels in the body, which is linked with increased stress. So, take a break and get outside to enjoy the beauty of nature with your own garden of shrubs and trees. Spring or summer, you can enjoy a nap in the shade, or enjoy a cup of tea in the evening surrounded by nature.
9. Attractive Landscaping
Use greenery to create a stunning landscape that will add character to your property. You can easily transform a dull, boring yard into a vibrant and colorful garden with the help of shrubs and trees. Plant evergreens for year-round color, or choose seasonal plants that’ll bloom annually. You can also combine your plants with hardscaping features, such as stone walkways or patios that give your landscape an extra touch of class. With a little imagination, you can create an impressive landscape that will draw the eyes of friends, family, and neighbors.
10. Have Flowers
Some shrubs and trees also have beautiful, fragrant flowers that can add even more life to your landscape. Many flowering bushes and trees, such as azaleas, rhododendrons, and magnolias, bloom for a few weeks in the spring. You can also plant trees that will produce fruit or nuts, such as apples and almonds. Not only will you have an attractive landscape to enjoy, but you’ll also have the added pleasure of harvesting healthy edible items. Depending on how many flower and fruit-producing plants you have, you may be able to make money selling your harvest.
11. Long-term Investment
Can you imagine 20 or 30 years from now, being able to point out the tree or shrub to your children or grandchildren that you planted? It can be a special moment they’ll always remember. Planting shrubs and trees is a long-term investment with lasting rewards. If you plan to be in the same house or pass it down to your heirs, planting greenery can be a way to contribute to the home’s value and create a meaningful legacy. As long as you have a local tree service to maintain things, your initial investment can outlive you.
12. Erosion control
Do you live in an area with hills or slopes? Erosion control can be an issue that needs to be addressed to maintain the health and beauty of your landscape. Planting shrubs and trees can help slow or stop the process of erosion by providing a barrier that will trap sediment and runoff. Runoff happens when heavy rainfall moves downhill quickly and carries away soil particles. With an adequate amount of trees and bushes, the roots can capture much of this runoff and help slow the water flow. It will reduce erosion and promote healthy soil. Without such a barrier, the soil can wash away and cause costly damage. If your home’s foundation is in the way of the runoff, the runoff will ruin it over time.
13.Pollution control
As mentioned, shrubs and bushes contribute to good air quality. So much so, many cities have laws and regulations requiring trees to be planted in certain areas or along roads with traffic. Trees and shrubs help to clean the air by absorbing pollutants in the atmosphere and can reduce noise pollution. Pollution control can also be beneficial for humans. Not only does it reduce the presence of pollutants in the air, but it also reduces allergens, which helps anyone with allergies or asthma.
14.Natural Windbreak
As shrubs and trees grow, they provide a natural windbreak that will reduce the impact of potentially dangerous winds. Strong winds can send debris flying into your property and cause damage to fences, windows, cars, and other items. A windbreak of shrubs and bushes will absorb some of the wind’s force and lessen its impact. Planting a hedge of evergreen trees can be especially effective as they are particularly good at blocking wind. If you live in a windy area, this can be an important step to protect your home and property.
15.Improved Water Quality
Your local arborist can strategically plant around the perimeter of your property to help improve water quality in nearby streams and rivers. The plants’ roots filter the runoff and debris before it reaches the water source. Without trees or shrubs, these sources of water can become polluted with chemicals and other pollutants that can be toxic or harmful to fish and other wildlife. Planting shrubs and bushes will help to protect these valuable resources.
16.Carbon Sequestration
The presence of trees and shrubs can help capture and store carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is a major greenhouse gas contributing to global warming and climate change. By planting shrubs and trees on your property, you can help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This reduction will also have a positive effect on the environment, as fewer greenhouse gases will lead to cooler temperatures.
17. Add Color and Texture
With the addition of vegetation, not only can you enjoy various shades of green, but also other hues as well. Depending on the type of plants you choose, your landscape can have an array of colors that’ll give it a unique and vibrant feel. Shrubs and bushes can also add texture to your property with their various shapes, sizes, and growth patterns. You’ll be able to create an interesting and eye-catching landscape with just a few strategically placed plants.
18. Additional Fun for Kids and Pets
If you have children or pets, adding trees, shrubs, and bushes to the landscape can provide endless entertainment. Kids can make a fort or tree house while they explore the outdoors. Pets can play in the shade of the trees, safely away from direct sunlight. Don’t forget about the birds and other wildlife that will make your yard their home, providing hours of entertainment as they flutter around or munch on the seed.
19. Stand Out in Your Neighborhood
A good tree service can make your property stand out from the rest in your area. Even if you’re not trying to compete with your neighbors, strategically planting vegetation around your property can add something special to the landscape. In addition, adding vegetation to your yard will create a more attractive and welcoming atmosphere for friends, family, and potential buyers. Even from afar, a property with trees and shrubs will appear more inviting and livable. Over time, you may encourage your neighbors to make similar updates.
20. Learn About Nature
Adding shrubs and bushes to your property is also a great way to learn about nature. As you watch them grow and change over time, you’ll better understand plants and how they interact with the environment. A good local arborist will explain the value of each type of plant and help you select those that will bring the most benefit to you. Caring for your plants can provide a sense of accomplishment as you watch them thrive over the years.
Homeowners can’t go wrong by adding shrubs and bushes to their property. Not only do they provide a variety of environmental benefits, but they also add beauty and interest to any landscape. From reducing energy bills to increasing property values, there are countless advantages to planting trees and shrubs around your home. With planning and care, you can have a beautiful landscape full of healthy and vibrant vegetation. If you’re interested in learning more, contact our local team of experienced tree contractors at Gateway Home & Garden Center today.
