The first difference that you will notice between urban areas and rural areas is the number of trees. In urban areas, they are much fewer than what you can expect to find in rural areas. The reason why we have so many declining trees in urban areas is because they are planted directly in compacted urban soil. Some are planted in tree pits that provide just a little space for the roots. Trees need enough space for the growth of their roots and also in order to absorb moisture well, and air too for better growth.
The truth is that trees which are planted in paved areas are likely to struggle for air and space in urban areas. This is because the soil volume is usually limited by the pavements, making it hard for the roots to get exactly what they need in order to flourish the trees, which is the reason why they eventually die. Instead of having flourishing trees in urban centers, we are met by great looking pavements with declining and poorly growing trees.
Structural Soil as the Solution for Urban Tree Growth
Structural soil use comes with all the benefits that trees need in order to grow well, without interfering with the pavements. This entails changing the design of the pavement profile in order to meet a requirement that can bear the load. This ensures you have a perfect pavement installed and at the same time allow for deep root growth, which will not interfere with the pavement.
There are so many places where structural soil can be applied in order to allow for tree growth and well developed pavements. Here are some of the top applications worth considering: -
Imagine the look of a healthy tree in the middle of a parking lot, providing shelter to the parked cars. This is something that can be made possible by the use of structural soil. This soil structure will ensure that there is enough amount of water, nutrients and oxygen available as well as all the other necessary requirements for tree growth. The soil will also be able to support the pavement and the weight of all the vehicles that will be parked right next to the tree. Therefore, there will be no damage to the pavement even as the roots grows wider and deeper.
2. In fire access lanes
This is an area close to a parking lot that is supposed to be left clear for use in case of an emergency. It is also essential that safety equipment is able to access the structure easily without the interference of parked vehicles. A tree can be planted in such a place, without any concern that it will get in the way. In this scenario, structural soil will be used so as to allow for proper tree growth and at the same time keep the pavement as stable as engineers intended it to be.
3. Along the streets
The most picturesque streets are those that have trees growing along them. For this to occur, the trees need to be provided with adequate aeration, proper drainage and enough space for root growth under the pavement. Once the pavement is in place, trees are then planted and with structural soil in place, their growth gets better everyday.
Save
Save