STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSES MOUTH

Duane A. Lienemann,

UNL Extension Educator,

 Webster County

April 29, 2011 Edition

One of the very first memorizations I did as a young student was a poem by Joyce Kilmer, named appropriately – “Trees.” I probably didn’t understand at the time why I had to do that, and how valuable learning how to memorize was to me for further education, so trees have special meaning to me. Let’s see if I can still bring the poem up from the recesses of my mind. “I think that I shall never see a poem lovely as a tree. A tree whose hungry mouth is pressed against the sweet earth's flowing breast; A tree that looks at God all day and lifts her leafy arms to pray; A tree that may in summer wear, a nest of robins in her hair; Upon whose bosom snow has lain, who intimately lives with rain. Poems are made by fools like me, but only God can make a tree.” You probably are thinking about now that the old guy has finally lost it. But as I sit down to write this column, it is officially Arbor Day, so take that for what it is worth. I don’t really have any places left to plant a tree, and perhaps don’t have the energy, so I will instead just dedicate today’s offering to trees.

First I might refer you to a very good article that appears in the Nebraska Farmer entitled “What's Wrong with Trees Around the Farm?” It really helps describe what we are finding in many places. Just go to http://www.farmprogress.com. I think it gives not only a rundown on condition of some of our trees, but makes you think what would happen if we didn’t have trees. I hope to convey during this session just a sampling of what trees provide for us beyond the obvious.
What comprises the benefits of trees? Just think about it for a minute. The very air we breathe is improved by the presence of trees. In order to feed themselves, trees absorb harmful chemicals such as carbon monoxide and in turn give off oxygen. As well, they filter and trap pollutants such as smoke, dust, and ash making our air cleaner. Where water is concerned, trees not only absorb water - preventing flooding, but also help disperse rainfall over a more even area. As well, by retaining water, trees help reduce the amount of topsoil the runs off into our streams. Leaves on the ground helps keep moisture close to the ground, aids growth, and traps chemicals, thus keeping them out of lakes and rivers.
On a larger scale, trees maintain our global environment in ways that we are just beginning to understand. By acting as enormous carbon sinks, trees absorb massive amounts of carbon dioxide from our atmosphere. Of course trees benefit us not only our physical environment, but also attract birds and other wildlife, making our urban centers a more pleasant place to live. Picture the eerie silence that would befall us were the song of birds entirely absent.
From an economic contribution standpoint, research shows that landscaping, especially with trees, can significantly increase property values. Trees reduce runoff and erosion from storms by about 7% and reduce the need for erosion control structures. The net cooling effect of a young, healthy tree is equivalent to 10 room-size air conditioners operating 20 hours a day. The shade from two large trees on the west side of a house, and one on the east side can save 30%, or between $100 and $250 annually, of a typical home’s annual air conditioning costs.

We, in Nebraska, know about the value of windbreaks. Trees properly placed around buildings as windbreaks can save up to 25% on winter heating costs. Compared with an open area, a good windbreak that does not shade the house will save about 15% of the heat energy used in a typical home. Rows of trees reduce wind speed by up to about 85%, with maximum reductions increasing in proportion to visual density. Because even a single row of dense conifers can cause large reductions in wind speed, effective windbreaks can be planted on relatively small areas and the owner can reap many benefits. Those individuals with livestock certainly know the value of windbreaks, especially in the winter.
If we look at environmental benefits, you would have to consider that leafy tree canopies catch precipitation before it reaches the ground, allowing some of it to gently drip and the rest to evaporate. This lessens the force of storms and reduces runoff and erosion. Research indicates that 100 mature tree crowns intercept about 100,000 gallons of rainfall per year, reducing runoff and providing cleaner water. A typical town with 10,000 trees will retain approximately 10 million gallons of rainwater per year from running off. One thing we don’t usually think of is that trees reduce noise pollution by absorbing sounds. A belt of trees 98 feet wide and 49 feet tall can reduce highway noise by 6 to 10 decibels.

Perhaps even more importantly individual trees, groves and even forests convey serenity and beauty along a number of sensory dimensions, often surrounding the individual with nature in an environment where natural things are at a premium. We have the tendency as humans to take many things for granted, and especially those things that come from nature. Perhaps because of their constant presence, most of us rarely lend much thought to the importance of trees in our lives, communities, and histories. We may take them for granted, or see them as mere decorations. Trees, however, are a vital and nurturing force. They benefit our environment, provide us food, medicines and building materials, and even inspire myths and stories. One of the best ways to realize the importance of trees is to imagine our world without them. I will end like the beginning – poetically: Ralph Waldo Emerson said it best: "The wonder is that we can see these trees and not wonder more." Here’s hoping that as you plant a tree on this special Nebraska borne holiday, that you stop and ponder the wonder of that tree!

The preceding information comes from the research and personal observations of the writer which may or may not reflect the views of UNL or UNL Extension. For more further information on these or other topics contact D. A. Lienemann, UNL Extension Educator for Webster County in Red Cloud, (402) 746-3417 or email to: dlienemann2@unl.edu or go to the website at: www.webster.unl.edu/home