Trees provide more than just beauty or a source of wood products. Rather, trees provide an assortment of economic, environmental, psychological and social...
Trees can extend the life of surface materials simply by shading that material from direct sunlight. As someone stands in the sun too long, he or she becomes...
Floods can occur anywhere, but urban areas experience increased frequency and severity of flooding events. This is a result of the high percentage...
Energy consumption is reduced by tree shade and evapotranspiration, lowering temperatures of the air and surfaces. Additionally, trees slow down winds by...
Stormwater runoff is a significantly growing source of pollution to our streams and rivers and is a large contributor to local flooding events. In urban...
Vegetation reduces noise pollution through a phenomenon called sound attenuation, which is the reduction of sound intensity. Normal attenuation of sound...
Glare is directly from a primary light source, such as sunlight. Reflection is the bouncing of the primary light source from a reflective surface. Vegetation...
Trees and other vegetation in urban areas considerably reduce urban-water runoff. As rain falls upon vegetation, it clings to the rough surfaces of leaves,...
There are several methods to measure the value of trees. The National Tree Benefit Calculator is a fast and simple way to estimate the benefits gained...
Evapotranspiration is a combination of evaporation and transpiration. Evaporation is a physical process that transforms liquid water into vapor by absorbing...
Temperature extremes can alter the chemical and biological characteristics of soils. Urban locations often have higher soil temperatures than rural areas...
Trees are an important part of our communities, but tree planting, maintenance and protection require an investment of resources, including time and money....
To ensure a tree will grow and develop to maturity, it is essential to evaluate the environmental conditions of a site.Light PatternsConsider the amount...
Cities can be extremely hot during long summer days. Air conditioning is often needed indoors and in cars to offset high temperatures. This heat can...
Cities contain numerous hard surfaces (concrete, asphalt, metal, and brick) that absorb large quantities of solar radiation (heat) throughout the day,...
Urban forests and parks offer a refuge for those who live in urban environments. Many people in cities, especially those in lower income areas, live in hot,...
In warmer regions, many people are willing to pay higher prices for homes that contain trees in their yards. They recognize that trees offer numerous...
This work is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, New Technologies for Ag Extension project.