Lower Midwest Community Tree Guide

Book excerpt: Trees provide us with many ecosystem services, including air quality improvement, energy conservation, stormwater interception, and atmospheric carbon dioxide reduction. These benefits must be weighed against the costs of maintaining trees, including planting, pruning, irrigation, administration, pest control, liability, cleanup, and removal. This report presents benefits and costs for small, medium, and large deciduous trees in the Lower Midwest region derived from models based on in-depth research carried out in Indianapolis, IN. Two hypothetical examples of planting projects are described to illustrate how the data in this guide can be adapted to local uses. Provides guidelines for maximizing benefits and reducing costs. Illustrations.