NewUrbanStreets

One day we were talking about the gaps in the row of trees planned for Dallas Street due underground obstructions and wishing there was a way to continue the theme. The project architect wanted to continue the theme of the concrete squares and we also wanted to carry on the tree/leaf theme.  I recalled leaves stamped into the concrete sidewalk around trees in Vancouver when we were there for the International Downtown Association conference. That quickly lead to speculation about how to create the stamp of a leaf.  (more…)

In downtown Houston in the past ten years we have planted hundreds of trees in new tree wells. Along with the streets being lined now with leafy plumes we have, in most cases, the three tall stakes with twisted wires through hoses around the trunk of each young tree. The support is absolutely necessary with the occasional strong winds in Houston–particularly when the wind is channeled through the buildings and the streets become wind tunnels. But, the stakes-wires-hoses are unattractive, interfere with opening car doors and pedestrians on crowded sidewalks must dodge them. An alternative is the Tree Staple. (more…)

Downtown Houston has added over a 1000 trees in the sidewalks since the mid 1990’s. Various designs were used that were driven by cost concerns and by salesman’s claims. This post will address the locations where the sidewalk was built of concrete unit pavers. Other lessons learned about tree wells in sidewalks will be posted here in hopes they help you minimize maintenance cost.

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