Community

Increasing homeowner’s property values

A quality landscape can increase a property’s value by 7-14 percent. Landscaping has a recovery value of at least 100 to 200 percent if well done. Homeowners want to maximize their investment of money and time in creating and maintaining their landscapes.

• Fifteen landscape programs were presented to more than 545 participants.
• Master Gardeners demonstrated landscaping techniques at Idea Garden located at the U of I Arboretum. The Idea Garden visitor’s registry was signed by 1,012 people with an estimated 6,000 more visitors last year.
• Garden Day 2003 featured four internationally known garden authors for 222 garden enthusiasts.
• Landscaping with flowers was taught to 186 Master Gardeners and 50 local residents.

Planting trees

Well-placed trees can shade homes and businesses to reduce indoor air temperatures by 20 percent, thereby lowering utility bills. Trees in cities moderate the summer heat generated by pavement and buildings in commercial areas. Windbreak trees can deflect wind in winter to reduce heating bills.

• Master Gardeners and the Horticulture Educator answered more than 3,000 inquiries at the Extension office.
• Programs were held on selecting trees and proper pruning techniques.

Enhancing community development

Prospective newcomers are attracted to cities with mature trees and landscaped parks. A well-done landscape adds curb appeal and can speed the sale of a home by 5-6 weeks. Eighty-seven percent of the trees planted in Illinois were planted at single family homes. Trees and landscapes reduce storm water runoff and reduce air pollutants. Communities save when fewer facilities must be built to control storm water.

• University of Illinois Extension and Champaign city arborist host tree walks to help individuals with tree identification.
• Held Champaign County Master Gardener Garden walk for 1,425 participants to highlight ideas for home landscapes.

Helping employees serve customers

Champaign County has 13 businesses specializing in horticultural products with total sales of more than $4 million.

• Garden center employees were trained on pesticide usage and disease diagnosis.
• Five area garden centers have employees that have completed the Master Gardener training. Three garden information kiosks were located at local garden centers.

Taking environmental responsibility seriously

University of Illinois Extension partnered with C-U Public Health, Champaign Public Works, Illinois Power and Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to provide a free used tire collection. More than 20,000 tires were collected. One tire can host more than 8,000 mosquito larvae.

• More than 160 million mosquitoes were potentially eliminated by removing these tires as breeding sites.
• Individuals would have collectively spent more than $33,000 to dispose of the tires. The tire collection saved residents disposal fees, cleaned up the environment, and reduced the risk of West Nile Virus.