Trees are all-mighty recyclers. They regulate our air quality through photosynthesis, absorbing nearly aton of CO2 in a lifetime and produce about 260 pounds of oxygen a year. Now they are being used to recycle waste. Willow trees are used in Enkoping, Sweden, to clean sewage sludge, reuse wastewater, and recycle liquid from landfills. The town spreads its waste around the trees, which, in turn, decompose and recycle it. Enkoping capitalizes on the faster-growing trees by harvesting them for “biomass [electricity] production.”

Mature trees that are properly placed around buildings can protect a household from excessive exposure to the sun or wind. According to the U.S. Forest Service, such tree cover can conserve air conditioning use by 30 percent and heating use by 20 to 30 percent. But wait, there’s more! The Service also states that “healthy, mature trees add an average of 10 percent to a property’s value.” Sounds like a win-win.

Did you know that certain types of trees warn each other when they’re under siege by insects? Since the late 1970’s, researchers have studied this phenomenon in willows and poplars. Collectively, they’ve found that trees infested with insects will produce an excess of chemicals in their leaves. These chemicals not only reduce the nutritional value of the leaves for the insects, but also warn neighboring trees. Following the warning, nearby trees will begin to produce the same chemicals, defending themselves from a similar attack.

The Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Rule limits landscape watering to two days a week throughout the South Florida Water Management District, with a three-day-a-week provision for some counties. In all cases, reclaimed water used for irrigation is exempt.

The Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Rule is a component of the District’s Comprehensive Water Conservation Program, approved by the Governing Board in September 2008 to encourage more responsible use of water resources throughout South Florida.

IMPORTANT: Local governments may adopt alternative landscape irrigation ordinances based on local water demands, system limitations or resource availability. Several counties and cities have exercised this option so residents should always check local ordinances for watering days and times

Tree’s can live a lifetime, some more.  Most tree’s live about 50-75 years.  Live Oaks on the other hand live far longer.  Live Oaks have been known to live upwards of 1000 years!

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