This week, we celebrated Earth Day on Wednesday, April 22. Then two days later, on the 24th, Arbor Day. Both days should bring needed awareness to the importance of plants in our daily lives.
Earth Day was founded in 1970 following a 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill. The founder wanted to harness the energy from the anti-war movement of the late ’60s to fight for a cleaner environment. This was needed at the time and led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and much needed environmental regulations. This was successful, and our air and water today are very clean.
Today, Earth Day is more about trying to create more sustainable ecosystems and environmental practices, this can be done by doing things such as reducing waste products and increasing energy conservation. Unfortunately, these kinds of things only seem to interest the most enthusiastic environmentalist.
There is something most people enjoy doing that helps increase sustainability. This is gardening, more specifically planting. Excluding invasive plants, all plants bring environmental benefits. Plants bring benefits such as cleaner air and support for beneficial pollinating insects.
Native plants are the most beneficial as they offer the most support to surrounding plants and wildlife. A great way to celebrate Earth Day would be to add a few native plants to your landscape.
Of all the plants, trees are the most important to a clean, sustainable environment. Depending upon the size of the tree, trees absorb up to 48 pounds of carbon each year. We always hear a lot about cleaning air by reducing fossil fuels, but very little attention is given to planting trees.
Great efforts have been made over the last several years to increase the number of trees in forested areas in Ohio. However, at the same time in urban and suburban areas the number of trees has decreased. These are the areas where the trees are needed the most to help reduce pollution and noise.
We have lived in our neighborhood since 2001. I have witnessed this with my own eyes. I have recently started taking more walks with my best friends, my wife and our golden retrievers. It struck me on one of these walks how many of my neighbors yards do not have any trees in the front yards.
When I was growing up, I remember every yard had a tree. Most of the streets were lined with trees. Trees prefer growing in forests with their friends. City living is stressful for them, but they are needed.
I worry that too many people are reluctant to plant new trees for selfish reasons. The saddest excuse is people who are lazy and selfish and don’t want to rake leaves. These days, not raking leaves is promoted because the fallen leaves enrich the soil as they decompose.
Selfish people also see tree as “something else to take care of” in a negative way. Just the opposite is true as trees will take care of you.
Trees in suburban environments offer essential environmental, economic and health benefits. They reduce energy usage for heating and cooling by up to 10%. You will have improved air quality as the trees filter pollutants. You will lower outdoor temperatures with increased shade. Best of all trees can increase property values by 3-15%.
Following a week that included both Earth Day and Arbor Day, I would like to encourage you to see how easy it is to contribute to environmental improvements.
Adding some native plants and a tree or two your landscape is one of the best ways to support our environment and ecosystems.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Earth Day has changed since its 1970 roots. Here’s what it means today in New York
Reporting by Chris McKeown, Special to The Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
