Rooted in Community

Arbor Day Along the Wasatch Front

In the classic children’s book, The Giving Tree, Shel Silverstein poignantly illustrates the many ways trees provide for us: shade, fruit, lumber, and an important sense of place. And they ask for little in return. This year for Arbor Day, Niche Homes would like to give some much-deserved recognition to the silent giants that add so much to our communities.

Arbor Day Origins

The original seedling for Arbor Day was planted in 1872, by J. Sterling Morton in Nebraska City, Nebraska. His time as the US Secretary of Agriculture opened his eyes to the varied roles trees play in our ecosystems, as natural windbreaks and habitats for wildlife. He became a devoted advocate for planting and protecting trees. It took almost a century for his idea to grow to fruition but in 1970, President Nixon designated the last Friday in April as National Arbor Day.

Growing in Value

As Realtors, we know how much people love tree-lined streets. A canopy of shade-giving trees creates an enticing neighborhood atmosphere, demonstrating the longevity and care of the community. According to numerous studies, homes with trees have 3.5% to 15% more value than those without.

It’s almost inevitable that the updates we make to our homes will depreciate. A new roof comes with a life expectancy that starts ticking away the moment it’s complete. Changes in trends, technology, and general wear and tear make even the most thoughtful improvements lose value over time. Not so with trees–they literally grow in value as they age.

Utah’s state tree, the quaking aspen, sketched by Holli Yoho

Who Grows There?

Planting a tree is an investment and, like all important investments, needs to be considered carefully. We asked Landscape Designer Missy Hardy for some of her recommendations on trees that promise a strong ROI. Here are a few of her favorites:

1. Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry – A small multi-stemmed tree that is prized for its multi-season interest, including showy white spring flowers, edible purple-black fruit in summer, and brilliant red-orange fall foliage. These trees prefer full sun and moist, well-drained soil but can tolerate some drought once established.
2. Forest Pansy Redbud – A small, deciduous, purple-leaved understory tree. Available with either multiple stems or a single trunk. Numerous dark pink flowers bloom in early spring before the leaves emerge. Heart-shaped leaves emerge reddish-purple turning more green through the year.
3. Pacific Sunset Maple – A tough, medium-sized shade tree. The glossy green leaves of this maple shine through the heat of the summer before showing off with a dazzling burst of color in the fall.

The Arbor Day Foundation offers this online tool that provides guidance based on your location, soil type, and size specifications.

Get Involved

If you’re inspired to lend a hand and plant some trees in our community, we encourage you to visit TreeUtah.org for a variety of ways to get involved. Salt Lake City’s Urban Forestry page includes detailed information about requesting trees for your park strip, as well as selecting, planting, and caring for trees in your yard. And check out our these upcoming Arbor Day events around the Salt Lake Valley: