Site Assessment Prior to Planting in the Urban Environment
There are several considerations to be made when establishing a long-lived, healthy tree. In this video, Liza Holmes explains important site assessment and preparation considerations, including planning for proper tree spacing …
Soils with a significant clay or loam component are much more compactable than sandy soils. Once compacted, soils are very slow to “de-compact” naturally. Mulching, air tilling, plug aeration, and deep or shallow tillage of the soil can mitigate soil …
Plants such as trees and grasses help hold the soil in place. Soil erosion is a serious problem in urban areas due to the loss of vegetation from construction, neglect, and/or overuse of surfaces in public recreation and gathering places. …
Soil can be contaminated by masonry, wood, paper, asphalt, paint, fuel, cement, oil, salt, or other materials. Contamination may occur across an entire site, such as an industrial property, or in spots, such as concrete washouts and refueling areas. This …
Credit: Raina Sheridan
Temperature extremes can alter the chemical and biological characteristics of soils. Urban locations often have higher soil temperatures than rural areas because of the heat that is absorbed by and reflected from buildings, sidewalks, streets, and vehicles. …
Photo Credit: Raina Sheridan
Lack of moisture in the soil is as harmful as too much water. Low soil moisture can be caused by high temperature, drought, high salt content, sandy soils, and improperly timed irrigation systems. Impervious surfaces can …
Good Planting and Placement prevents Problems
Many activities in an urban area can change a soil’s physical, chemical, or biological characteristics. Construction and landscape maintenance are the most common of these.…
Trees provide more than just beauty or a source of wood products. Rather, trees provide an assortment of economic, environmental, psychological and social benefits to humans. Energy savings are one such highly valued benefit or service urban trees provide. Did …
