Willow Benefits - Hugging My 4 Willows

National Tree Benefit Calculator

 Excerpt:

Your 36 inch Willow will intercept 3,764 gallons of stormwater runoff this year. Urban stormwater runoff (or "non-point source pollution") washes chemicals (oil, gasoline, salts, etc.) and litter from surfaces such as roadways and parking lots into streams, wetlands, rivers and oceans. The more impervious the surface (e.g., concrete, asphalt, rooftops), the more quickly pollutants are washed into our community waterways. Drinking water, aquatic life and the health of our entire ecosystem can be adversely effected by this process. Trees act as mini-reservoirs, controlling runoff at the source. Trees reduce runoff by: Intercepting and holding rain on leaves, branches and bark Increasing infiltration and storage of rainwater through the tree's root system Reducing soil erosion by slowing rainfall before it strikes the soil

Edina launches tougher rules against tree teardowns

 Excerpt:

“Cities are looking at the landscape for more of its functional value,” Holman said. “Along with the aesthetics, they want to make sure the builder or homeowner understands that the landscape performs functions like energy management, stormwater management, heat island mitigation.” For example, a mature oak tree can intercept more than 5,000 gallons of stormwater that would otherwise run off into sewers, according to an unofficial tree benefits calculator used by the DNR.

Comment: Image is from Wiki. But we have 4 large ones this size or more across the back of our property