{"id":14954,"date":"2020-03-11T13:28:00","date_gmt":"2020-03-11T20:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=14954"},"modified":"2024-04-01T10:13:17","modified_gmt":"2024-04-01T17:13:17","slug":"trees-increase-property-value","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/trees-increase-property-value\/","title":{"rendered":"Find Your Home\u2019s Tree Soulmates and Increase Your Property Value, Too"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do trees increase property value or will they become a hassle to care for? That comes down to the health, vigor, and species of the trees gracing your lawn, which starts with planting trees that are a great match for your climate and soil. Follow this guide to tree selection based on science and not whatever some random clerk at the store is selling you. Then, keep reading for tips on how to care for your trees and market them to buyers when the time comes to sell your home.<\/p>\n

\"Trees<\/a>
Source: (Johannes Plenio \/ Pexels)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Calculating tree value for your property<\/h2>\n

Trees \u2014 so long as they are happy and healthy \u2014\u00a0are worth something<\/i> of monetary value. A summary of tree studies featured in Arborist News \u2014 \u201cCity Trees and Property Values<\/a>\u201d \u2014 by social-scientist Kathleen Wolf found that, “homes with trees are generally preferred to comparable homes without trees, with the trend across studies being a price increase of about 7%.\u201d<\/p>\n

HomeLight\u2019s 2019 research on the value of curb appeal backs this up, too: 75% of top real estate agents agree that well-landscaped homes are worth anywhere from 1% to 10% more <\/a>than homes without landscaping.<\/p>\n

However, the value of any given tree in your yard depends on a lot of variables. The Council of Tree & Landscape Appraisers has a formula for valuing trees<\/a>, based on factors like the landscape merit of the tree species, the location of the tree (whether it\u2019s historically preserved, on a golf course, or based on a residential property), as well as the tree\u2019s overall condition.<\/p>\n

According to the Council, \u201cWounds, decay, storm damage, insect or disease damage, and poor form\u201d all dock value in a tree appraisal. A dying or diseased tree can also pose a safety risk to the surrounding property by way of brittle branches<\/a> hanging by a thread.<\/p>\n

Find your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone as a starting point<\/h3>\n

Based on the information above, this much is clear: A dying or infected tree is of no value. In fact, it\u2019s going to cost you money to treat or remove it. So don\u2019t plant trees that aren\u2019t meant to thrive in your area.<\/p>\n

How can you do that? Well, the Plant Hardiness Zone Map<\/a> developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) helps you identify which types of plants will survive in your \u201cAverage Annual Extreme Minimum Temperature\u201d \u2014 in other words \u2014 just how dang cold it gets where you live. This is super useful as you pick trees to plant.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
Source: (USDA)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For example, a Windmill Palm<\/a> is a tropical plant that will thrive in Zones 8-11, making it appropriate only as far north as South Carolina except in some zones of California. The Autumn Blaze Maple<\/a>, on the other hand, will do best north of those areas in Zones 3-8. To find your zone, input your ZIP code at the top of USDA\u2019s map tool<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Test your soil chemistry: Is it alkaline or acidic?<\/b><\/h3>\n

Hardiness zones don\u2019t paint a complete picture, however. Jeff Edgar, President and Owner of Silver Creek Nurseries<\/a> in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, says choosing trees involves other considerations, like soil pH.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d like to say that the USDA Hardiness Zones can be a little misleading,\u201d says Edgar. \u201cBesides the hardiness zones<\/a>, little to no attention is paid to soil chemistry. For example, in my area of Wisconsin, our soils are generally very alkaline. Even if a tree would be cold-hardy, it may not survive in our soils.\u201d<\/p>\n

Knowing whether your soil is more alkaline or acidic is important in urban areas as well, where alkaline materials<\/a>, like lime-based gravels, can make it hard for alkaline-intolerant trees to survive. In Edgar\u2019s area, Honey Locusts<\/a> and Maples<\/a> are good alkaline-tolerant tree options, for example.<\/p>\n

You can test the pH of your soil without buying a kit. According to guidance from The Spruce, a site that\u00a0advises more than 30 million readers<\/a> each month on top home improvement projects, all you need is a soil sample, white vinegar, baking soda, water, and two disposable cups to conduct an acidity-alkalinity experiment<\/a>. Just follow these simple steps:<\/p>\n