10 Reasons to Plant a Tree

1.               Trees save energy and money. Just three trees strategically planted around your home can cut your air conditioning bill in half.

2.               Trees save tax dollars. Trees slow storm-water runoff in a city and reduce the need for storm sewers. Tree shade also helps cool municipal buildings, lowering electricity bills.

3.               Trees cool our cities. Urban "heat islands" are directly related to massive tree-cutting for development.

4.               Trees clean our water and air. From low level ozone in our cities to pesticide and fertilizer runoff from our farms, trees absorb harmful pollutants.

5.               Trees help community life. Tree planting and community based forestry can add significantly to a local community's sustainable economy while restoring the environment.

6.               Trees protect soil. By holding soil in place with their root systems, deflecting pounding rain with their canopies and by adding nutrients each fall with their leaves, trees are crucial to keeping and improving our soil.

7.               Trees provide habitat for species of many kinds --including endangered species. A key project of American Forests is "Trees for Tigers" in the Russian Far East that is restoring habitat for the endangered Siberian tiger.

8.               Trees can pay your "carbon debt". Planting just 30 Global ReLeaftrees will absorb the amount of carbon dioxide that is generated in the production of energy for the average American lifestyle each year.

9.               Trees provide clean water and natural flood control. Forests act as natural reservoirs, and they protect watersheds, providing clean water for cities, bays and rivers.

10.            Trees are a beautiful part of our lives. From striking individual trees that are of historic significance or are simply large and majestic, to a grove of trees in a city park, trees enrich our lives by simply being there. Trees are not just a key to the natural ecosystem --trees are an essential part of community life.

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Visit IKEA Twin Cities on Saturday, October 1st when we'll be giving out Balsam Fir seedlings for you to take home and plant!  Quantities are limited, so stop by early (for breakfast, maybe?) Also, for the month of October, you can elect to donate $1 to American Forests every time you check out. To read more about the partnership between American Forests and IKEA, click here!