by Holly Bromley, BS |
Health conscious individuals are usually aware of our connection with plants and how vital they are to our existence. An environmentally healthy earth influences the quality of the food we eat, which also directly impacts our health. The future of our planet depends upon the health of the planet’s forests. But besides the great forests and food producing farmlands there is another area where plants grow that affect our health directly…the plants growing around our homes.
The role that our landscape plants play in our lives is often quite overlooked. The trees, shrubs, grasses and flowers that grow right outside our doors have far more value in our lives than most people give them credit for. Most everyone appreciates the beauty of a nicely planted and maintained yard, but the benefits go far beyond the aesthetic value of a nice landscape.
Landscape plantings significantly influence our lives in economic, physical, psychological and social ways. Here are but a few ways we benefit:
The first and most obvious are shade trees. A well placed shade tree reduces energy consumption by reducing the need for air conditioning in our homes. Trees also diminish the amount of reflective heat from solar rays bouncing off city hardscapes such as roadways, buildings and walkways thus mitigating the heat island effect found in cities. Trees and shrubs can also provide windbreaks and play a significant role in filtering chemical and particulate pollution from our air. They also provide privacy screens and buffer our homes from the noise and light pollution of nearby traffic and commerce.
Landscape plantings have been shown to provide enormous benefits to our emotional wellbeing. Lush, green foliage evokes calmness and relaxation among prison inmates and can also reduce stress and anxiety in employees who work indoors. Convalescing patients also are shown to recover quicker, with reduced need for pain medications when exposed to a view of a lovely landscape.
Without question, our landscapes offer us numerous health benefits; therefore, it is vital that we return the favor by ensuring that our outdoor scenery is kept in optimal health. Homeowners have a lot invested both financially and emotionally in their landscapes. I have never met someone who wants to plant a “temporary tree” with hopes it will only survive a few years then die. When we plant a tree, we envision a time in the future when it provides cooling shade where we can relax below its lovely broad branches and dense foliage. And yet many frustrated home owners have discovered that having a healthy landscape requires more than plunking a couple of plants in the ground and adding water.
Trees and shrubs, like people, can suffer stress. Stress can cause plants to succumb unnecessarily to disease and insect infestation, which can weaken or kill the plants we love. Much of the environmental stress that plants suffer is unavoidable: late frosts and exceptionally hot summers, for example. However, much of the stress that plants suffer is caused by inadequate care in the form of proper irrigation and maintenance practices. Home irrigation systems that seem “worry free” to homeowners are often not designed or scheduled appropriately to provide landscape plants, especially trees, with enough water: and water is the single most important resource for plants in our dry climate. Improper pruning practices can also have devastating effects on trees and shrubs and can render them weakened and vulnerable to disease and insects. Sadly, many “professional” landscape management companies have little if any knowledge of how to correctly prune plants for optimal health.
Most landscape plants in our area are not native and are, therefore, growing in an “unnatural” environment. Consequently, they are absolutely dependent upon us and the resources we provide to survive and thrive. If you have general questions regarding how best to care for your landscape the local University Cooperative Extension office has a wealth of information available. If you have specific concerns about plants in your own yard, such as a sick tree or a tree that doesn’t seem to grow properly, you can also seek the advice of a Horticultural Consultant or Certified Arborist who specializes in consulting and disease diagnosis. An Arborist is educated in tree physiology that is based upon scientific research, unlike a lawn and landscape professional whose knowledge is often based on tradition or best guesses. A consulting Arborist can advise you on how to properly care for your landscape plants, so you can reap the benefits of a healthy landscape for years to come.
References
- Harris, R.W. 1983 Arboriculture: Care of Trees, Shrubs, and Vines in the Landscape Prentice-Hall New Jersey
- Kahn et al. 2005 Journal of Agriculture and Social Sciences 1: 69-70
- Ulrich, R.S., 1985. The Role of Trees in Well Being and Health. Proc. 4th Urban Forestry Conf., pp 15-9 St. Louis, Missouri
For more info, contact Holly Bromley or Leslie Lyles certified arborist and horticulturist at (775) 849-1215
