January 27, 2016
Landscape Ontario has recognized that failed urban plantings are a concern for the industry. To address this issue, a steering committee was formed, which through their collective experience have concluded that a variety of environmental stresses and unfavorable environments are likely to blame for the decreased survivability of urban landscape plantings.

Alone and in combination, factors such as soil compaction, moisture stress, and light availability all influence tree survival. To further direct the steering committee, Landscape Ontario commissioned a literature review be completed on the available research which focuses not only on the stresses in the urban landscape, but as well as on the research towards potential solutions or mitigation strategies for these issues.

The findings and recommendations of that literature review, titled "The impact of environmental stresses on the survivability of the urban landscape: A review of the literature and recommendations," can be found at the top link to the right.

The report is expected to provide a better understanding of the harsh urban landscape and guide the landscape sector towards the development of purchasing, planting, and maintenance specifications and standards. Additionally, this literature review provides direction for research initiatives that are intended to fill existing knowledge gaps and achieve a better understanding of the stresses which impact tree survival.

The Finding Workable Solutions Workshop report at right, summarizes possible solutions brainstormed during a meeting held in October 2015 which brought together 32 participants from both the nursery sector and Ontario municipalities to improve their relationship and the procurement process to increase the survivability of urban plantings by municipalities.

Participants identified the need for an on-going process that will be goal-oriented and build upon the work done in the first workshop.

The reports were issued by Landscape Ontario and the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association with funding assistance obtained with the province’s Growing Forward 2 program.