Because they retain vibrant green leaves all year, evergreens provide considerable value to many properties across Virginia and the rest of the DC metro area. This makes them a smart investment homeowners should consider, no matter the season or your overall landscaping goals.
Read on to learn seven of the most important ways these trees offer everything from energy savings and winter beauty to improved soil health and air quality, as well as a few of the best evergreen trees for residential properties in our area.
Seven Benefits of Evergreen Trees in Virginia and the Greater DC Area
Depending on the species selected and the specifics of the property, evergreen trees can provide dozens of benefits to local landscapes. However, the following seven apply to most situations and scenarios.
1. Four-Season Visual Appeal
Beginning with the most obvious benefits evergreen trees provide, green foliage that lasts all year long can help transform a residential property. This is particularly true of homes surrounded by deciduous trees, which shed their leaves each fall and remain dull gray or brown through the winter.
Beyond simple beauty, evergreen foliage provides significant cognitive and mental health benefits, as demonstrated in a 2023 study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Participants experienced more rapid cognitive recovery and reduced stress when observing evergreen trees during the winter months.
2. Increased Property Value
Most healthy, well-maintained trees generate increased interest among homebuyers, which typically translates to higher sales prices. In fact, research published by the U.S. Forest Service indicates that the presence of trees can increase residential property values from 3% to 15%, depending on their species, maturity, and placement.
However, potential buyers shopping in the winter may not fully appreciate a property’s tree canopy if it is largely comprised of deciduous species. But because spruces, pines, cedars, and other evergreens retain their foliage all year long, they help create a backdrop that lasts throughout the year.
3. Improved Privacy
Even if you get along well with your neighbors, most homeowners enjoy having a little privacy. Fences can certainly work in this regard, but trees can also serve as visual and physical barriers while also providing benefits like shade and aesthetic charm.
But not all trees make effective privacy screens. Some lack the foliar density to block sightlines and deciduous species often become pretty transparent during the winter. But many tall, columnar evergreens — including Leyland cypresses, arborvitae, and some hollies — make excellent privacy fences when planted and spaced correctly.
4. Greater Energy Efficiency
Trees are widely celebrated for helping to shade homes and exterior AC units during the summer. But this benefit certainly isn’t limited to evergreen trees; deciduous trees maintain leafy canopies throughout the summer, providing similar energy-saving value.
However, when strategically placed, evergreen trees can help reduce your heating costs, as they can block chilling winter winds. Research conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture even indicates that evergreen trees can make very effective windbreaks and cut wind speeds by 50% to 60%.
5. Ecological Support
Most trees native to Virginia and the rest of the greater DC metro area provide resources for wildlife. Oaks, cherries, and sweetgum trees are famous for providing birds, squirrels, and chipmunks with food, but several evergreen species — including eastern redcedars and white pines, among others — also serve as valuable food sources for small animals.
Trees also provide habitat, roosting locations, and nesting opportunities for our local wildlife. And because they retain dense canopies during the frigid winter months, evergreen species offer additional value in this regard. Some, such as American hollies, provide shelter and food that helps support wildlife when resources are particularly scarce.
6. Quieter Surroundings
One of the most underappreciated benefits mature trees provide is their ability to block noise, especially for properties that are located in busy urban areas or alongside roads. And interestingly, while foliage provides the bulk of a tree’s sound-dampening qualities, research conducted by Noise Project found that rough bark textures also block noise.
This makes evergreen trees a natural choice for noise-blocking purposes. Not only do they retain their foliage all year long, thereby preventing sound levels from climbing in the winter, but many species — including pines and eastern redcedars — have particularly rough bark.
7. Healthier Soil
Unfortunately, like many other urban and suburban areas around the country, neighborhoods in Northern Virginia are often plagued by low-quality soil. The result is soil that is compacted, stripped of nutrients, and vulnerable to damaging erosion.
But trees help address all of these issues. Shed leaves contribute nutrients to the soil, while roots can help reduce compaction and absorb or redirect runoff water and limit erosion. Evergreens perform especially well in this regard, as Sea Grant North Carolina reports that they reroute more water than deciduous trees of the same size.
Evergreen Trees to Consider for Virginia Properties
It’s typically best to consult with an ISA-certified arborist before planting trees on your property. This will not only ensure you select suitable species for the site but also that you’ll have the support and guidance needed to get your new trees started on the right foot.
However, the trees identified below (including many which we’ve already mentioned) are among those that usually work well in our area, provided that they’re planted correctly and in a location that satisfies their needs.
- Eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana)
- American holly (Ilex opaca)
- Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)
- Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda)
- White pine (Pinus strobus)
- Norway spruce (Picea abies)
- Leyland cypress (x Cuprocyparis leylandii)
- Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica)
- Nellie Stevens holly (Ilex x ‘Nellie R. Stevens’)
- Wax myrtle (Morella cerifera)
- American arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis)
- Green Giant arborvitae (Thuja ‘Green Giant’)
- Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata)
- Deodar cedar (Cedrus deodara)
- Hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa)
- Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)
Note that none of these species are immune to threats, nor do they all work in all situations. For example, eastern hemlocks are gorgeous, shade-tolerant evergreens, but they’re susceptible to the hemlock woolly adelgid, while Leyland cypresses are vulnerable to Seiridium canker.
Enjoy a Vibrant Green Property All Year Long
Whether you already have evergreens on your property or you’d like to start enjoying increased property value and lower winter energy bills while supporting the local wildlife, it’s important to partner with a team of arborists who understand the unique challenges Northern Virginia presents.
With a history stretching back more than 30 years and multiple ISA-certified arborists on our staff, the RTEC Treecare team is ready to help you care for your trees and ensure they reach their full potential. Contact us today to learn more about the services we provide or schedule an appointment.
Sources & References
- National Center for Biotechnology Information – “The Positive Influence of Tree Cover on Residential Property Values: A Meta-Analysis”
This peer-reviewed study synthesized data from dozens of local housing markets to quantify the significant statistical relationship between urban canopy coverage and home price premiums.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9915963 - U.S. Forest Service – “Tree Cover and Property Values in the United States”
This research paper provides a comprehensive nationwide analysis of how both on-property and neighborhood-level tree density affect market valuations for single-family homes.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/nrs/pubs/jrnl/2022/nrs_2022_kovacs_001.pdf - U.S. Forest Service – “Windbreaks for Conservation”
This technical manual details the physical mechanics of how vegetative barriers reduce wind velocity, manage snow drift, and improve energy efficiency for residential and agricultural structures.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/nac/assets/documents/morepublications/windbreaksforconservation.pdf - The Noise Project – “Trees as Noise Barriers”
This research summary examines the efficacy of different tree species and planting densities in absorbing and scattering urban sound waves to create quieter residential environments.
https://noiseproject.org/trees-as-noise-barriers/ - North Carolina Sea Grant – “Trees of Strength: Benefits of Trees”
This publication outlines the multifaceted advantages of urban forestry, including its roles in stormwater management, energy conservation, and significant property value increases.
https://ncseagrant.ncsu.edu/ncseagrant_docs/products/2010s/ss_trees_benefits.pdf
