I know that for many people, home values have plummeted. One way to keep your home's value as high as possible, especially compared to the neighboring homes, is to keep the landscape looking its best. Shade trees that are healthy and thriving add more value to homes and even to otherwise vacant properties than any other landscape item.

We all want fast-growing trees that never have any problems and never have to be watered or maintained. The problem is that trees are alive and everything alive has problems. Most fast-growing trees are short-lived and not too sturdy while they are growing. They tend to drop more twigs and other debris and have more insect and disease problems than slower-growing trees.

Fast-growing trees will grow trunks and branches longer than 2 feet per year. Slow-growing trees grow less than 1 foot per year, while medium-growth-rate trees grow between 1 and 2 feet. Many trees that are known to be long lived, like oaks, are often fast or medium growers for the first 20 to 50 years and then they settle down to a long-term slow-growth rate.

Shade trees provide more than just shade on the patio. They can have pretty flowers, fruit and fall color. Many provide food and shelter to birds and other wild creatures. They reduce the heat and glare from the sun on houses and cars. Their leaves absorb pollutants, dust and noise. They help slow the winter winds and help create summer breezes.

My normal response when someone asks me what kind of tree they should grow in their yard is to say: Plant what no one else in the neighborhood has. That way, your tree will have less chance of getting some disease or insect problem later on. A brand-new neighborhood may not have many trees yet, so it will be hard to prevent others from copying your choice. Ask several of your local nursery people what their top 10 or 15 best-selling trees are and then ask them which one they would have in their own yard.

Shade trees don't just shade the ground under themselves. They grow large enough to shade your house, which can save you a lot of money on cooling costs. Strategically located shade trees will increase in value more than trees scattered around the property. It would be good to get a landscape plan so the tree can go in the best position. Plan ahead for backyard activity areas such as patios, decks or play areas so the tree can shade them without being moved or cut down in the future. Plant any of the trees at least 15 feet from the house.

This is the best time of year to look at the shade tree's future location. Decide which part of the house you want to be shaded and go outside between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on any summer day. Determine where the tree should be planted by looking at your shadow. Stand in the yard looking at the house and when your shadow points at it, you are in a good spot.

Now that you know where it should go, what are the existing growing conditions? The first thing to consider when picking a tree for a particular use in a certain location is to make sure the growing conditions are compatible. Is the location sunny or shady? Is the topsoil plentiful or not? Is the soil well drained, does it stay dry unless you water it, or does it stay wet all the time without watering? Unless you enjoy a challenge, do not plant trees in the wrong growing conditions.

Next, consider the size and shape of plant that will fit in that location. Does it need to grow narrow and tall to fit between the houses, or can it grow wide and round? Will it fit without pruning, or will it be a maintenance headache? Most people cannot imagine the plant they have in their hand ever being big enough to hang a tire-swing on, and then they plant it way too close to the house.

Now, start narrowing down the choices. Is it disease resistant? What color should the leaves, bark, flowers and fruit be? When does it flower, and does it have a good fall color? For each single characteristic chosen, there will be many suitable species available. The more attributes selected, the more specific the selection will be and the fewer substitutes that will match all of the characteristics.

Trees are long-term investments. Drive through an older neighborhood and you will see nice old trees. They probably did not get there on their own. One of the first outdoor investments each property owner should invest in is trees. Some local cities will actually give you a tree or just charge enough to cover the cost of the tree to perpetuate the program. If your city does this, get a tree as soon as you can and then invest some time and money to take care of it.

One of the fastest ways to increase a home's value is to plant trees and to finish the landscape plan so that the whole landscape is pretty. Because of the lower number of new houses, many nurseries have a better selection of trees than usual, so this is a good time to buy trees.

E-mail questions to Jeff Rugg, Kendall County unit educator, University of Illinois Extension at [email protected]. To find out more about Jeff Rugg and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.