110 Horticulture Today
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Biological and Environmental Impacts
Plants play a major role in any ecosystem. Plainly speaking, without
plants, an ecosystem could not exist. The plants that are used in the green
industry have biological and environmental impacts as they:
• Act as a food source for other organisms.
• Help to add nutrients to the soil through decomposition.
• Control erosion by holding soil intact with their root systems.
• Add oxygen to the air through the process of photosynthesis.
• Sequester carbon that is emitted into the atmosphere.
• Provide shade.
• Reduce temperatures through the process of evapotranspiration in leaves.
Evapotranspiration is the release of water through plant leaves, which then
evaporates and helps cool the air. Plants are essential to the environment and
their impacts and benefi ts are realized by all creatures within that bionetwork.
Aesthetic Impacts
Although beauty may be in the eye of the
beholder, most people realize the lack of natural
beauty in a concrete landscape. Aesthetically, a
simple plant on a concrete canvas can make a huge
difference in making a space seem more inhabitable
and welcoming. As people have recognized both
the aesthetic and health benefi ts of plant materials,
there have been many efforts to promote green
spaces in urban settings, Figure 4-17. Cities often
require new construction to include public green
spaces as part of a building’s design. Many cities
and towns are also incorporating green spaces
by converting empty lots into public gardens,
promoting the installation of rooftop gardens, and
by planting trees and plants along public roads.
Did You Know?
Trees can cool
the surrounding
environment by
10 degrees through
shading and
evapotranspiration.
Thinking Green
Tree Gators
Spectrum Products Inc.
A Tree Gator® is a self-watering tree bag
that efficiently waters newly established trees.
The bags are made of plastic and have very
small holes at their base. The bag wraps
around the tree’s trunk and slowly releases
water over a one- to two-week period,
depending on the weather. What do you think
inspired someone to invent this product?
tommaso79/Shutterstock.com
Figure 4-17. Green spaces do not have to be elaborate
to provide aesthetic and health benefits to an urban
landscape.