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Ecological Benefits of Trees

The ecological benefits of trees are all around us . . .literally! They affect the air we breathe, the soil we stand on and grow our food in, the wood we build our homes with, the water we drink, the sun that shines on us, and even our minds on a psychological level.

Can you imagine living in a world without any trees? Well luckily you won’t have to, because without them we actually wouldn’t survive. Trees absorb the CO2 that we breathe out, and release the oxygen that we breathe in.

Trees also help the soil too. Trees use soil to grow their roots into, which in turn holds the soil in place. Without roots holding the soil, rain or hills would cause the soil to erode.

Ever sit under a tree for some shade on a hot summer day? Trees are great for providing shade, whether its for one person, or a whole house! Having tall, leafy trees around your house can block out a lot of the sun, and thus keeping your house cool without the use of an expensive air conditioner!

So many of the fruits we eat come from trees. Apples, pears, peaches, lemons, oranges, you name it! And it’s not just food that we humans eat, many animals and birds get their food from trees as well.

Sometimes trees just make us feel good. Whether we realize it or not, our brains just like to see trees. Studies show that trees can make us feel more calm and focused, as well as less violent.

We at Westchester Tree would love to help you take care of your trees so they can continue to provide you with these benefits, so give us a call at (914)238-0069 or visit our website to learn more.

Dutch Elm Disease

Elm trees are a great, beautiful variety of tree, but they’re vulnerable to something called Dutch Elm Disease which can cause unsightly patches on the tree, or even tree death.

Dutch Elm Disease is due to a fungus spread by the elm bark beetle, and is not limited to just any one kind of elm tree. Once a tree catches Dutch Elm Disease, the tree tries to block the affected area from spreading the fungus, but this process also cuts off parts of the tree from receiving water and nutrients, which slowly kills the tree. The disease originated in Asia, but has since spread to North America, Europe, as well as New Zealand due to the spread of the beetles that carry it.

So what are some symptoms of Dutch Elm Disease, and how can you prevent your elms from the disease altogether? The first sign that a tree may have become affected might be a barren branch or a branch with yellowing leaves towards the top of the tree during the summer or other times when leaves would not normally be turning their fall colors. This will spread throughout the rest of the branches and eventually reach the roots, which kills the entire tree.

If you can get diseased branches pruned from the rest of the tree before the fungus spreads, you may be able to save the rest of the tree. Don’t forget to burn any affected branches after they are removed so they don’t accidentally infect anything else.

If you think you have an elm tree that is being affected by Dutch Elm Disease and would like help containing the damage or removing the tree if too much damage is already done, contact us at here on our website, or call us at (914)238-0069

The Sugar Maple

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The Sugar Maple, also known as Acer saccharum, is a beautiful addition to any yard! Sugar Maples are known for their bright, eye-catching foliage during Autumn, especially in New England, and are one of the largest trees in the hardwoods family!

Sugar Maple trees flourish in cool, moist climates, and are able to grow on sands, loamy sands, loams, and silt loams, but does best when planted on well-drained loams! A loam is defined as a fertile soil of clay and sand containing humus. Sugar Maple trees tend to do best when placed in an environment with abundant organic matter.

Sugar Maple Forest Westchester Tree Life

Image Courtesy of http://www.nhdfl.org

Why are Sugar Maple trees an ideal choice for your yard? The Sugar Maple is a tree that continues to grow up to 148 ft., and has wide, dense leaf coverage which offers a great amount of privacy. Consider planting a string of Sugar Maple trees instead of a fence, when considering privacy options for your residence or business. The large, looming Sugar Maple tree also offers cover from direct sunlight, and a windbreak, which are factors that play into the cost of your home or business’ heating and cooling bills.

Spring Grove Nursery Westchester Tree Life

Image Courtesy of springgrovenursery.com

The resilient Sugar Maple Tree is a fantastic option when considering what trees to plant on your business or home property!