The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago; the second-best time is now! This unknown quote is very appropriate because Arbor Day is Friday.

We all know trees matter and are important to society. However, until recently, we couldn’t assign a specific dollar value to a tree other than the actual cost of purchasing one.

Thanks to the United States Forest Service, Davey Tree Expert Company, and the Arbor Day Foundation, we now have software based on science to assess the value of a tree for its economic and environmental services.

The i-Tree software provides quantifiable data and statistics on trees. This software is free at www.itreetools.org

This software was developed to promote a better understanding of the benefits and services provided by trees.

It raises the awareness of the value of trees and helps to increase a community’s investment in stewardship, operations and maintenance.

The software allows you to enter the size and species of a tree and receive the economic and environmental impact data for it.

The older and the larger a tree is, the greater the benefit in most cases. This means we need to not only plant new trees but also take care of the ones we have.

Now communities have a tool that helps them make management decisions on their trees as well develop a tree-planting program.

A master plan for the urban forest is the first step in making sure it is healthy and useful while saving money on street tree maintenance. An important component in the master plan is the tree inventory.

An inventory of trees on public land can be used to better manage the resources in a community. Knowing the species and sizes of trees helps to maximize the benefits that the community forest provides. The inventory helps to manage the urban forest proactively rather than reactively.

Many Ohio communities are faced with replacing a large number of trees due to emerald ash borer infestation and eventual death of these trees.

By having a tree inventory of the species in the community, the forester can determine the cost for removal and replacement of these trees.

The tree inventory along with the i-Tree software allows us to conduct an analysis and benefits assessment on trees and provides quantifiable data and statistics as to why trees really do matter.

You can determine the value of a tree in your landscape by using a similar tree benefit calculator at treebenefits.com/calculator.

Enter the species and size, and learn about the economic and environmental benefits.

Pam Corle-Bennett is an Ohio State University Extension

horticulture educator and the state Master Gardener volunteer coordinator.