April 25th

By Mutt Mulligan

TurfMutt & Big Rooty “root” for Arbor Day

Arbor Day, one of TurfMutt’s favorite holidays, is this Friday. To celebrate, TurfMutt and the arborist of the Outdoor Powers, Big Rooty, encourage you to “bark” for trees.

Big Rooty is the muscle guy of TurfMutt’s environmental superhero group, the Outdoor Powers. An important part of the living landscape, trees prevent soil erosion by trapping rainwater deep in the ground, absorb carbon, produce oxygen, and provide shade to cool heat islands, the hardscaped areas that make our cities much hotter than rural areas.

Big Rooty and TurfMutt believe Arbor Day should be an “evergreen” holiday. Here are their top 5 reasons to tip your hat to trees.

1. According to American Forests, two mature trees provide enough oxygen for one person to breathe over the course of a year.
2. A 100-foot tree, 18″ in diameter at its base, produces 6,000 pounds of oxygen, say scientists at the Northwest Territories Environment and Natural Resources.
3. The USDA Forest Service reports that in L.A. alone, trees remove nearly 2,000 tons of air pollution each year.
4. If properly placed around buildings and homes, trees can reduce air conditioning needs by 30 percent, according to the USDA Forest Service. This adds up to a 20-50 percent savings in energy costs.
5. Trees, combined with grass, shrubs and other plant life, provide food and habitat for birds and small mammals.

Want to learn more? Go to LivingLandscapesMatter.com.