Sunday June 17 is Father's Day.
If you are looking for a gift that will impress dad why not give him a gift that will grow on him, such as a tree.
Trees are a living monument that will give years of enjoyment. There are many benefits to planting a tree in your yard, including adding beauty to the landscape, increasing the property value, helping out the environment, and providing food and shelter for you and birds.
It is amazing how much a tree can add to the beauty of the landscape. When you drive through a neighbourhood the yard with the trees stands out. The value of a landscaped property and home can rise by 20 per cent, so planting trees and landscaping is a good
investment.
Not only do people enjoy trees, but so do the birds and other small animals. Trees such as Mountain Ash, Chokecherry, Flowering Crabs etc produce small fruit that the birds enjoy eating. Birds also use trees for shelter.
Trees play an important role in the environment. The leaves filter the air by removing dust and other particulates as well as absorbing carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide, and in return they give off oxygen.
They also give people an overall happy, healthy feeling. Trees help moderate the climate by providing summer shade as the leaves on the deciduous trees deflect the sun, and they also help keep the air cooler as water is evaporated from the leaves by using the heat from the air.
When deciduous trees are planted on the south or west side of a home they keep the home cooler during the summer, and an evergreen hedge planted on the north side of a home will protect the home from the cold winter winds, helping out with the heating bills.
The roots of the trees can help stop soil erosion. During rainstorms the roots intercept the water and store it, reducing the run off.
Water quality is also improved because the rain water is slowed down and filtered.
There is a number of different trees that grow very well in Prince George. Hardy fruit trees such as apple, cherry, and plum all produce tasty fruit. There is nothing fresher then an apple from your own tree and the taste can't compare to the apples from the store. Other trees are grown for their shape, beauty, flowers and fall colours.
Little Leaf Linden has a beautiful shape and in the summer produce clusters of fragrant creamy flowers. American Elm has a large arched canopy, with toothed
foliage that turns yellow in the fall.
Many of the Ash and Maple trees have beautiful fall colours. Mayday and Hawthorn trees are early bloomers and tell you that spring has arrived.
When choosing a tree, think about where the tree will be planted. It may be small now but all trees will grow in height and width.
Do not plant it under or near an overhead line. Do not plant too close to the property line as the neighbours may not appreciate having a tree so close.
Tree's make a wonderful gift.
Why not surprise dad with a tree and you can spend some family time together planting the it.
If planted and cared for properly, the tree can be a wonderful
reminder of how much you care.
