7 Reasons to Thank a Tree This Arbor Day

In recognition of Arbor Day on April 25, the TurfMutt Foundation is celebrating the vital role trees play in enriching our environment, enhancing our health, and beautifying the spaces where we live, work, and play.

“Trees are environmental superheroes,” says Kris Kiser, President and CEO of the TurfMutt Foundation. “They clean our air, cool our neighborhoods, support wildlife, and even help us feel better—physically and mentally. This Arbor Day, we invite everyone to step outside, enjoy the trees in their communities, and consider planting one to leave a lasting legacy.”

The TurfMutt Foundation shares these many reasons to thank a tree this Arbor Day:

• Reduces heat islands: Large parks or tracts of urban trees can cool daytime summer temperatures by about 10 degrees. Shaded ground can be up to 36 degrees cooler than unshaded ground.
• Produces oxygen: Two mature trees provide enough oxygen for one person to breathe over the course of a year.
• Improves air quality: In L.A. alone, trees remove nearly 2,000 tons of air pollution each year.
• Makes people healthier & happier: According to the Arbor Day Foundation, people who engage with trees and green spaces daily have better mental and physical health than those who spend less time in nature.
• Better learning: Trees on or near school grounds are positively linked to students’ academic achievement.
• Decreases energy costs: According to the Urban Forest Coalition, 100 million mature trees around U.S. residences save approximately $2 billion annually in reduced energy costs.
• Boosts property values: Each front yard tree adds one percent to a homeowner’s sale price, while large specimen trees can add 10 percent to property values.

To help children and families explore the benefits of green spaces, the TurfMutt Foundation offers free lesson plans and activities designed to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.

Discover more in the TurfMutt Foundation’s International Backyarding Fact Book, and don’t miss Mulligan the TurfMutt on CBS’s Lucky Dog Saturday mornings.

Stay connected with Mutt Mail, the TurfMutt Foundation’s monthly newsletter packed with backyarding tips and updates.