The city tree planting thing we keep getting backwards

I keep seeing people push for planting tons of trees in paved areas downtown to fight heat. But I watched my block get 12 new maples last summer and they all died by fall because the roots had nowhere to go. The soil under concrete is compacted garbage and no one is prepping the ground first. We need to dig proper pits and add compost before we plant, otherwise we're just wasting money and time. Has anyone else seen this fail in their neighborhood too?

2 comments

2 Comments

tylerr297d ago

Respectfully, I think the problem isn't the planting method, it's the tree species. City blocks with concrete need tough trees like ginkgo or London plane, not maples that have shallow roots and need loose soil. My street got ginkgos five years ago and they're thriving in cramped pits. Maples are pretty but they're not built for urban survival. The city should pick trees that match the site instead of blaming the soil.

ninab957d ago

You mentioned ginkgos doing well on your street, but have people thought about what happens when those trees get old? I've seen ginkgos hit thirty years in tight spots and start lifting curbs and busting underground pipes. The roots don't just go down, they spread out looking for water. City planners plant for the first ten years, not the next forty.