Urbinden reposted this
This is a great synopsis of how you must approach trees as infrastructure in the urban environment. I’ll continue to kick and scream about this on all my projects until utility departments and retailers realize the power of great environments.
Reminder: 100% canopy cover is achievable in streetscapes. Four tips to get you there: - Trees must be the priority in your design. If you scratch tree planting locations from your plans every time they conflict with a pipe, cable, hydrant, building foundation or driveway, you'll never deliver a street this good. Problem-solve instead of giving up, *especially* when jaded colleagues claim that there's no solution. - Tree protection must be the priority in your maintenance. When a branch or root conflicts with a cable, carriageway, footpath or something else, find a way to keep the tree alive and healthy, and minimise root or branch pruning. Removal (or excessive pruning) is the easiest option and many colleagues and residents will demand it; if you cave to this demand, your street will never achieve good canopy cover. - Trees must be a non-negotiable in consultation. Don't give residents or businesses a veto on trees in front of their homes or businesses; we don't do that for sewer pipes or footpaths or traffic lights. Emphasise that trees are essential public infrastructure, not an optional decoration. Get good at public consultation (and education) and then offer real choices, but not the veto option. - Trees must be able to spread underground if you want good cover overhead. When planting, allocate adequate soil volume, using structural soil where necessary, or your trees won't ever get this big. If you can add in passive irrigation (e.g. via permeable paving or kerb inlets), your trees will grow much faster, provided they have proper drainage.