News Release – 23 May 2006

When looking for ways to increase the value of your home, don’t forget to look outside the front door. Just think about it, the trees and shrubs that comprise your landscape are moneymakers waiting to happen.

Trees are majestic, colorful and inspiring. While the beauty trees provide is a good reason to invest in them, it isn’t the only one. According to Greg Daniels, a certified arborist and President of Bartlett Tree Experts, trees are also valuable because they shade our yards and homes, fight sound pollution and more.

“Trees can provide monetary benefits like reduced air conditioning costs and can make a home more comfortable by masking unwanted noise,” says Daniels. “Healthy trees can also add to overall property value.”

Research has shown that homebuyers prefer a sophisticated landscape design that incorporates vigorous, mature trees and colorful plantings. Results from a study that recently appeared in the Journal of Environmental Horticulture indicate that a landscape with these elements can raise the perceived value of a home between five percent and 11 percent.

Additionally, many realtors agree that mature trees have a strong or moderate impact on the salability of a home.

Whether you’re thinking about selling now or in the future, proper tree care from a professional arborist can help you capitalize on your landscape investment. While pruning and other basic services can add curb appeal before a sale, preventative tree care is the best, most cost-effective way to maintain healthy trees.

With preventative care, problems are identified early, before serious damage can occur. Pests, disease, root and soil disorders and inadequate nutrition are all potential problems that can detract from a tree’s beauty. These issues may cause wilting, discoloration, leaf dieback or sometimes even death.

“It is almost always more expensive to take down or replace a dead or dying tree than to provide it the care it needs to remain healthy over time,” comments Daniels. “It’s really sad to see homeowners lose trees that are special to their family or valuable to their property – especially when many of these losses can be prevented with regular care.”

For more information, call 1-877-BARTLETT or visit www.bartlett.com.