At the 2010 GreenBuild, Peter MacDonagh, the Kestrel Design
Group, James Urban, FASLA, Urban Trees + Soils, and Peter
Schaudt, FASLA, Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects, argued that
without new tree planting techniques that use healthy loam
soils, major “one million” urban tree planting campaigns will
fail, wasting lots of money in the process. MacDonagh said
“urban forestry is broken. We need to remake with a different
approach.” Finding out What Works for Urban Trees Urban trees
are now understood to be a central part of green infrastructure
systems and provide a range of benefits. They reduce the urban
heat island effect, manage stormwater, and provide shade that
lengthens the life of materials. In the summer, shadier streets
also means lower neighborhood temperatures, which can reduce air
pollution that increase asthma rates. “All of these benefits are
great, but they won’t happen if we keep planting like we have.
It will be a mirage,” argued MacDonagh. MacDonagh said larger,
older trees are far more valu