Planting trees has many benefits both locally and globally – one of the most important one being cleaning the air. Trees help stop global warming – they remove carbon dioxide from the air, store carbon and release oxygen into the Earth’s atmosphere. They absorb harmful pollutants, therefore cleaning air and water. Huge amounts of trees are cut down daily to be made into paper-goods people use – paper, books, newspapers, magazines, toilet paper, tissues etc. Planting a tree can be your way of giving back to the environment. Planting trees can also help restore wildlife habitat sites that have become endangered due to over-harvesting of trees. On more personal level, trees around your home can raise its value, they help cool houses in summer and break the cold winds to lower heating costs in winter. Plus, they can be just pretty to look at and hang your hammock or kid’s swing to.

When planting trees, it is a good idea to plant the ones that are appropriate to the local environment to make sure they’ll thrive – in USA you can check that at Arbor Day Foundation’s website. You can get trees for planting from a local nursery. Then you need to find a place where you want your tree to grow. Dig a hole twice as big as the root ball to give the roots room for spreading out. Put the tree in the hole and fill it with the soil. Make sure the tree is straight and pat it gently but firmly. Water the tree, and enjoy.

If you don’t have a backyard or a good lot to plant a tree, you can help your local environment by volunteering in tree planting events in your area. Besides making you feel good about it, tree-planting also doubles as exercise in the fresh air. If you don’t feel like planting a tree, you can donate money to have one planted for you.