City Trees is a premier publication focused on urban + community forestry. In each issue, you’ll learn how to best manage the trees in your community and more!
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/65193
URBAN GREEN – BENEFITS REALIZED WITH CARE -ADVERTISEMENT- "Re-greening" of urban sites reaps many long-term benefi ts Joni Mitchell observed; "Th ey paved paradise and put up a parking lot" about a world made of concrete, steel and glass. We haven't reached that point yet. If anything, we are now actively re-greening neglected urban sites and protecting the trees living there. Trees absorb carbon monoxide and other poisonous gases and produce oxygen. Leaf canopies fi lter dangerous particulates. Shade slows the production of ozone, reducing respiratory ail- ments, skin cancer and stress related illnesses. A healthier city environment is the result. Trees cool the air in summer and provide protection against the cold winds of winter. Energy consumption is lessened by approximately 10% when trees aid in climate moderation. Root systems and leaves intercept rainfall, hold the soil, reduc- ing fl ash fl ooding risks. Plant for long-term. Envision mature trees in the "right site. " City managers and arborists see re-greening benefi ts. Tree species are now selected for environmental sustainability and city adaptability. It's intelligent and cost eff ective asset main- tenance. Root Invigoration with an air spade Air Spade Originally developed for the military, this supersonic air tool was adapted by Bartlett scientists to aerate compacted soil and release bound roots. Some cities and towns constantly remove young trees that don't survive 1-2 years and replant the sites (with the same species). A planting strategy of "right plant right place" combined with long-term maintenance promotes longevity, health and beauty and yields far better survival results. Root failure is the primary cause of urban tree loss. Pavement limits rooting space, leading to water stress and premature de- cline. Road and sidewalk excavation can destroy vital tree roots by cutting them. Road salt is also harmful as are certain herbi- cides and other toxic substances. Soil compaction also inhibits root growth, increasing tree instability. City "re-greening" provides benefi ts for generations to come. It is cost-eff ective in terms of environmental health, energy and aes- thetics. City planners now realize this. Arborists will help con- tinue the trend to urban green. Sally Murdock Associate/Bartlett Tree Experts Paving Materials Are Tested Studies at Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories in Charlotte, NC indcate that some paving material resists buckling by root growth, while other pavements crack and give way. Using paving materials that are porous enough for water intake and fl exible enough to resist root growth keeps pavements intact lon- ger, lessens soil compaction and reduces plant loss. Sidewalk testing Tree Stability Studies Yield Information Bartlett scientists intentionally cut tree roots for testing purposes to see how trees adapt and sur- vive. Young trees showed a measurable change in tree stability when cuts were made closer to the trunk than three times the trunk diameter. So, for a 6-inch diameter tree, if roots are cut closer than 18 inches from the trunk, the tree becomes less stable. If the soil is saturated with water, a tree becomes much less stable on the side toward the cut roots. About Bartlett Tree Experts Th e F.A. Bartlett Tree Expert Company was founded in 1907 by Francis A. Bartlett and is the world's leading scientifi c tree and shrub care company. Th e organization's current chairman, Robert A. Bartlett Jr., represents the third generation of Bartlett family management. Bartlett has nearly 100 local offi ces serving 28 U.S. states, Canada, Ireland and Great Britain. Services include pruning, integrated pest and disease management, soil analysis and management, cabling and bracing, tree lightning protection systems and tree/stump removal. Its corporate offi ces are located in Stamford, CT. To fi nd out more, visit the company's web site at www.bartlett.com or call 1-877-BARTLETT (227-8538). www.urban-forestry.com 29