Links of Interest 

Permission to Plant and Care for a Street Tree:  PDF Document or Word document

Dept. of Water& Power -  Trees for a Green LA Program

TreePeople

North East Trees

EAD’s Greening Resources Guide

United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service

National Gardening Association

Treelink

National Association of State Foresters

National Arbor Day Foundation

Theodore Payne Foundation

Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute

There are many benefits of tree planting and other greening projects for the individual, community and environment. This is especially important since approximately 80 percent of all Americans live in urban areas, many of which have less than ideal amounts of park and open space. Bringing trees and green space into Los Angeles neighborhoods where residents can see and interact with them on a daily basis will maximize the benefits.

Parks, green spaces and trees affect our quality of life through our everyday moods, activities, and physical and emotional health. Research performed by social scientists has found substantial evidence of this. People who view nature after a stressful situation exhibit reduced physical indicators of stress as well as fewer feelings of fear, anger, and aggression. Hospitalized patients recover faster when their view through the window includes trees. Clearly, trees and other greening does much more for us than just beautify our neighborhoods.

Trees and shrubs can provide enhanced privacy for urban residents, emphasize attractive views or screen objectionable ones, reduce glare and reflection, and create a barrier for noise and wind. Planting trees around your home is a good investment since, according to the International Society of Arboriculture, property values are 5 to 20 percent higher for landscaped homes than for homes without landscaping. Well-placed trees or vines also lead to lower utility bills because shading your home lowers your need for fans or air conditioning. Greening improves our communities by making them more visually appealing and by providing color and character to individual neighborhoods and business areas.

Trees can significantly alter our environment by lowering air temperatures and alleviating air pollution. Los Angeles, like all cities, experiences the urban "heat island effect", which causes higher temperatures brought about by the heat-absorbing pavement and buildings. A National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council study found that about 12% of the air quality problem in cities can be attributed to heat island conditions, so lowering temperatures with shade trees also will reduce air pollution. Trees also improve air quality by removing carbon dioxide, particulates, and other pollutants from the air, and by producing oxygen.

Greening also conserves rainwater and reduces water pollution. By removing paved surfaces to plant trees and other vegetation, groundwater recharge is increased and surface runoff is decreased. Stormwater flowing from our streets often carries a variety of pollutants directly into the ocean. When this water is allowed to soak into the ground instead, many pollutants are removed and don’t reach the ocean. Roots act as a natural filter, removing nutrients and pollutants as water percolates down through the soil.

All in all, greening is important to us as individuals, communities, and environmental stewards. So plant a tree or garden, take a walk in the park, or just remember to stop and smell the flowers as you go through each day.