At Western Landscape Services we encourage you to celebrate the importance of trees in our lives. By planting just a single tree or shrub, you can make a difference. Each tree will help to contribute to cleaner air, lower energy costs, create greater protection of our soil and water supplies, reduce noise levels, and establish a more serene and beautiful environment in which to live. Selected trees can be planted in many spaces. Where trees cannot be planted, we can render the condition for tree habitat. Removing a portion of asphalt or concrete to increase our urban forest canopy will mean a paradigm shift in our thinking. Biodiversity in an ecologically balanced urban setting will achieve ``Our Commitment to Mother Nature``. Plant a Tree! Plant lots of Trees!

We are passionate about encouraging the general public to plant trees. We see the need to go one step further and educate the future generation, our children, about the importance of trees in our environment. Therefore in 2008 the team at Western Landscape Services launched a dynamic and successful project delivering educational sessions to Elementary School children in Kingston to ‘Plant a Tree, Make our City Cool’. The project was well received by the students, their teachers and volunteers.

Each year during the month of April and May, surrounding the annual celebration of National Arbor Week, we plant seven mature trees at seven various Kingston elementary schools free of charge. Our certified Arborist and his staff plant a tree with Grade 6 children teaching them the importance of trees in our world. Not only are children educated on the valuable skill of how to plant a tree, but how to care for a tree once it is planted. Children are each given a seedling to take home to plant at a location of their choosing.

If you are a school interested in participating in ‘Plant a Tree, Make our City Cool’ please download the ‘Tree Planting Information for Elementary Schools’ form or contact Carol.

The Benefits of Trees - PDF DOCUMENT with more information

Air

	A tree produces oxygen while using up carbon dioxide. Some scientists contend that the over-abundance of carbon dioxide in the earth’s atmosphere will lead to the ‘greenhouse effect’.
	A tree’s foliage filters out fine particulates and smog, and also traps ash, dust, and pollen.

Soil

	A tree’s falling leaves and needles decompose. This decomposing material provides rich nutrients for the soil.
	A tree’s roots help to anchor the soil, thus preventing valuable topsoil from being blown away by the wind or washed away by the rain.
	A tree’s roots and canopy reduce flooding by allowing rain to percolate into the ground, which reduces rainfall run-off.

Water

	A tree, in addition to reducing topsoil erosion, also helps prevent harmful land pollutants, contained in the soil, from getting into our waterways.
	A tree, in addition to slowing down water run-off, ensures that groundwater supplies are continually being replenished.

Noise Levels

A tree’s various parts absorb sound waves, deflect the waves in different directions, and thereby reduce the sound’s intensity. Each 100 foot width of trees can absorb about 6 to 12 decibels of noise. Since a busy highway can generate as much as 72 decibels of sound, trees can make a significant and welcome reduction in noise levels.

Utility Costs

	A tree, such as an evergreen, if properly placed in your yard, can act as a windbreak and an insulator. In the winter, this can translate into lower home heating costs.
	A tree, especially a deciduous, if strategically placed to provide shade for your home’s roof and outside walls, can help reduce air conditioning costs in the summer.

Property Values

	A tree adds to the beauty and charm of the landscape and can therefore increase the property’s value.
	A tree breaks up the monotony of masonry, cement, metal, and glass along city streets and sidewalks. Areas with trees often attract more people (e.g. tourists, customers).

Recreational Places

	A tree provides valuable play areas where children can climb, make a swing, and build a tree house. In urban areas trees help children to see and appreciate nature.
	A tree is often used by birds and small animals for shelter, nesting and for the storage of food. Again, this enables all of us to have some contact with nature.
	A number of trees can help hide unsightly areas such as garbage dumps, highways, scrap yards, mine sites, etc.

Plant trees, lots of trees…… Are you looking for your Grade 6 class(es) to participate in National Arbor Week this Spring? Take this opportunity and call Western Landscape Services to deliver ‘Plant a Tree, Make our City Cool’ educational session at your school.

For more information on "Plant A Tree, Make our City Cool" please email or call Carol Vandertol at Western Landscape Services.