Minnesota DNR | Tree Facts 

Minnesota DNR

The Minnesota DNR has a publication that discusses tree protection practices as well as the many benefits of trees in our communities.  To get a copy of this publication, please click here:  http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/urban/bmps.html

Did you know that when properly cared for, trees are valuable and growing assets, worth three times their investment? 

Landscape trees in Minnesota provide benefits that far exceed the costs of planting and care over their lifetime. 

Environmental and aesthetic benefits such as energy savings, stormwater runoff reduction, cleaner air, and higher property values are an average of three times greater than tree care costs.

The greatest benefits come from energy savings and property values. 

For more information about how trees pay us back, click here 

For more information on trees and how they pay us back, check these out:

General index of urban tree research topics:  http://cufr.ucdavis.edu/research/index.asp

Specific information on the cost/benefits of trees:  http://cufr.ucdavis.edu/guides.asp?Action=search&SearchArea=products&ProductTypes=20

Tree Facts

• Trees are not only beautiful; they’re valuable, both in terms of environmental benefits and monetary value.  New research reveals that trees benefit communities in many ways. Trees that are planted in the right place return from $3 - $7 in annual benefits for every dollar invested in their care.

Trees increase property values

• Well-maintained trees increase the “curb appeal” of properties.  Research comparing sales prices of residential properties with different tree resources indicates that people are willing to pay 3-7% more for properties with ample tree resources versus few or no trees.
• Each large front-yard tree is associated with an increased sales price of approximately 1% and back-yard trees are worth approximately 75% of front-yard trees.

• Trees provide greater energy savings in the Midwest because they have greater effects during the cold winters and warm summers.  An energy-efficient home in the Minneapolis metro region can reduce annual heating and cooling costs by approximately 8% with three 25-foot trees, strategically located in the yard.

• Minnesota is recognized as a national leader in planting trees in an effort to conserve energy.
• There is now proof that trees save energy, reduce storm water-runoff, reduce air-pollutant uptake, increase property values, and reduce noise and more.
• Wind protection from three 25-ft tall trees – two on the west side and one on the east side of the house would save $25 each year for heating, a 3% reduction.
• Trees located opposite west-facing walls provide the greatest net heating and cooling energy savings.  A typical 20-year-old hackberry intercepts 1,394 gallons of rainfall per year.  After 40 years, this figure increases to 5,387 gallons per year.
• Greening our cities is often more cost effective than building new power plants or maintaining storm water management structures.
• Trees modify climate and conserve building energy – Shade, evapotranspiration and reducing wind-speed.

Average annual net benefits per tree for a 40-year-old tree:

$3 (small size public tree) to $15 (small yard tree)
Small tree defined as – Crabapple or similar

$4 (medium size public tree) to $34 (medium size yard tree)
Medium tree defined as – medium Red Oak or similar

$58 (large size public tree) to $76 (large size yard tree)
Large tree defined as – mature Hackberry or similar

•Yard trees produce higher net benefits than public trees, primarily because of lower maintenance costs.

Twenty years after planting, average annual costs for tree care ranged from $8 to $36 per tree.

$8 (small yard tree) to $27 (small public tree)

$13 (medium yard tree) to $33 (medium public tree)

$15 (large yard tree) to $36 (large public tree)

•Public trees are more expensive to maintain than yard trees, primarily due to the increased costs of pruning, planting, and removal.

•Trees add color, texture, line, and form to our landscape.  Research on the aesthetic quality of residential streets shows that street trees are the single strongest positive influence on scenic quality.

•In contrast to areas without trees, shoppers indicate that they shop more often and longer in well-landscaped business districts.  They are willing to pay more for parking and up to 11% more for goods and services.

•Thick strips of vegetation in conjunction with landforms or solid barriers can reduce highway noise by 6-15 decibels.  Plants also absorb more high frequency noise than low frequency noise, which is most distressing to people

Facts About the Study:

Tree care costs were based on results from a survey of municipal and commercial arborists.  Benefits were calculated using tree growth, curves and numerical models that consider regional climate, building characteristics, air-pollutant concentrations, and prices.

Contributing Organizations:
Center for Urban Forest Research
USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station

Department of Land, Air, and Water Resources
University of California, Davis

Support provided by:
USDA Forest Service, State & Private Forestry
Urban and Community Forestry Program
Tree Trust
Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board, Forestry Section
EnvironMentor Systems
University of Minnesota, College of Natural Resources, Department of Forest Resources
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry

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