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Mature Trees Add Value: Don't Clear the Lot

Keep Existing Trees When Building a New Home

Research (Texas A&M, 1976) showed mature trees added $25,000 to property value in Houston. Today, the premium is even higher. Mature trees provide immediate shade, energy savings, erosion control, and aesthetic maturity that new plantings cannot.

Why Not Trust the Contractor

Contractors often lack arboricultural knowledge. They may remove valuable specimens or damage roots during grading.

Better Approach

Hire a certified arborist to assess tree health, species, and placement.
Work with a landscape architect to design around keepers.
Protect root zones during construction with fencing and no-grade-change zones.
Plant new trees strategically for future shade (see blog link in original).

Removing all trees is a costly mistake; selective retention pays off.

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