[CANUFNET] Trees and boulevards

[Michael Richardson]

There are a few things to think about:

1)  Sidewalks are setback from roads to provide comfort, safety and
utility for pedestrians, not as a planting space.  Do not shift trees and
make a less walkable city at the same time.

Tree survival and growth is dependent upon a great number of factors, of
this large number a few are the greatest contributor to variability in
survival and growth.

2)  Tree failure is often due to improper planting techniques.  I am
seeing 100% improper techniques on a number of large projects;

3)  Soil assessment should be done on the site;

4)  Soil improvements in the beginning will pay large dividends in the
future;

5)  In the shorter term the soil volume is not the issue but rather soil
physical and chemical characteristics are the primary issue;

6)  Soil volume, bulk density, and infiltration should be improved for all
trees.

7)  For individual planting sites rapid site assessment should be done
immediately prior to planting and final remediation done if feasible;

8)  The continued application of complex organic matter will drive growth
over the long term.


Michael


> All, we are having a bit of an internal debate about standards for
> local/residential roads and boulevards.  My observation is that trees that
> are planted in a boulevard behind a monolithic sidewalk (sidewalk up
> against the curb and planting area next to the property) generally do
> better. They have access to more soil volume in the front yard, they get
> more water and the boulevard is tidier since the homeowner treats it like
> part of their yard. Also fewer issues with roots lifting sidewalks. Some
> of our staff prefer the separated treed boulevard, for various reasons.
> Note, I'm not talking about busier roads where the trees in boulevards
> help to form a barrier from traffic.
>
> We don't have a lot of good examples here that directly show a comparison.
> Does anybody have some photos that might show the performance of trees on
> one side of the road in a separated boulevard, vs. trees on the other side
> behind the sidewalk?
>
> Below is an example that doesn't exactly show this, but it does show the
> value of soil volume, with the trees on the left side being able to access
> the lawn area behind the sidewalk, vs. the trees in "coffins" on the
> right. These are lindens planted at the same time.
>
>
> [cid:image003.jpg at 01D7B468.A59AC0E0]
>
>
> Ian Wilson
> Infrastructure Operations Manager | City of Kelowna
> 250-469-8842 | iwilson at kelowna.ca<mailto:iwilson at kelowna.ca>
> Submit a request for service on the go | kelowna.ca<http://kelowna.ca/>
> I acknowledge that my workplace is located on the traditional, ancestral,
> unceded territory of the syilx/Okanagan people.
>
>