The Roles of Trees

Trees create micro-climates:  microclimates are formed when trees block air mixing, reduce radiative heat loss, and cast shade.  A foliated tree will block sunlight during the day, slowing the warming of the ground beneath it.   At night, the canopy reduces heat transfer; the warmth to radiate back into the open sky. The leaves of a tree act as a wind break, keeping the warmth from being swept away by the wind.  This is very important during winter months when the sloping sun angles reach under the leaves to warm the soil, keeping the heat from returning to the open sky and protecting plants below. 

Trees reduce heat islands.  A single tree may have 10 to 30 acres of leaf surface, not only casting shade, but collecting dust and pollutants from the air.

Trees are air conditioning units, as their leaves absorb sunlight and warm the air within its internal branches; this hot, moist air rises and mixes with drier, cool air above.  Convection currents begin to churn, and morning breezes begin, creating cooling winds.

Trees help spawn several species of beneficial fungus that grow symbiotically amid the roots, secreting nutrients and antibiotics that feed and protect the tree.

Trees are supreme erosion-control systems with 30-40% of the tree’s mass below the ground.

Trees are fun for kids, providing a climbing gym.

Trees create their own fertilizer through pollutants, bird and insect droppings, bacteria and fungi that collects on its leaves, mixes with rain, and is released to the ground below, feeding itself and the myriad of nearby plants.

Trees are a food source, such as an oak tree supplying acorns to squirrels and bluejays and the bark a feeding source for other birds, and yet others depend on the inconspicuous flowers for food.

Trees create passive solar- when foliated, they cast shade lowering temperatures by as much as 10’ on south facing, summer days.  When defoliated, they allow the lower winter sun angles to warm, by as much as 5-7’.

Trees are a major contributor to a healthy ecosystem each fall.  Leaf litter is essential part of the soil life, providing the micro-nutrients essential to build the sub surface layering for a successful and healthy ecosystem.  From the moment it reaches the ground, the leaf is enjoyed by invertebrates and primary decomposers, turning the leaf into fertile, organically enriched earth.

Trees are excellent water purifiers- up to 2,000 gallons of water on a hot, dry day can be transpired through a mature tree.