Presents essential information on the fundamental properties of soils and how they are affected under urban conditions. Coverage includes the physical, chemical and biological characterisitics of soil; how it can be classified, inventoried and mapped; urban soil properties; problems and solutions to many of the more common urban soils; methods of ameliorating compaction including other major drainage problems and much more. Contains over 150 illustrations.

The soil which is found in large cities offer distinctive challenges to the landscape architect or horticulturist responsible for maintaining these urban plantings. Often compacted, contaminated, or otherwise unsuitable for use in major landscape projects, these soils require practical methods which can insure a successful outcome of a landscape project. This applications-oriented, introductory reference addresses numerous topics in the field of urban soil science.

Provides a clear, practical template for specifying landscape soils based on scientific criteria.

"Up By Roots is a manual for landscape architects, architects, urban foresters, and planners who are designing, specifying, installing and managing trees in the built environment. Part One discusses basic soil science and tree biology and their relationship to healthy trees. Part Two explains the process of planning and implementing landscape designs to ensure healthy trees that can improve the quality of places where people live, work and play. The book contains numberous illustrations and data in graphic form to provide guidance in the design of healthy soils and trees."--Pub. desc.

This hands-on guidebook provides practical, applied information on design considerations, site planning and understand-ing, plant selection, installation, and maintenance of trees in challenging urban environments.

What can we do, right now, in our own landscapes, to help solve climate change? Predictions about future effects of climate change range from mild to dire - but we're already seeing warmer winters, hotter summers, and more extreme storms. Proposed solutions often seem expensive and complex, and can leave us as individuals at a loss, wondering what, if anything, can be done. Sue Reed and Ginny Stibolt offer a rallying cry in response - instead of wringing our hands, let's roll up our sleeves. Based on decades of experience, this book is packed with simple, practical steps anyone can take to beautify any landscape or garden, while helping protect the planet and the species that call it home. Topics include: Working actively to shrink our carbon footprint through mindful landscaping and gardening Creating cleaner air and water Increasing physical comfort during hotter seasons Supporting birds, butterflies, pollinators, and other wildlife. This book is the ideal tool for homeowners, gardeners, and landscape professionals who want to be part of the solution to climate change. AWARDS GOLD | 2018 Nautilus Book Awards: Ecology & Environment

With an ever-increasing proportion of the world’s population living in cities, soil properties such as salinity, acidity, water retention, erosion and pollution are becoming more significant in urban areas. While these are known issues for agriculture and forestry, as urban development increases, it is essential to recognise the potential of soil properties to create problems for the environment as well as structural concerns for buildings and other engineering works. Understanding Soils in Urban Environments explains how urban soils develop, change and erode. It describes their physical and chemical properties with a focus on specific soil problems that cause environmental damage, such as acid sulfate soils, and also affect the integrity of engineering structural works. This fully revised second edition addresses contemporary issues, including an increase in the use of green roofs and urban green space as well as manufactured soils in a variety of urban environments. Understanding Soils in Urban Environments provides a concise introduction to all aspects of soils in urban environments and will be extremely useful to students in a wide range of disciplines, from soil science and urban forestry and horticulture, to planning, engineering, construction and land remediation, as well as to engineers, builders, landscape architects, ecologists, planners and developers.