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Board discusses watering, tree-pit soils, structural specs and FlexiPave timing
Summary
Board members reported current watering, raised concerns about structural-soil backfill in new sidewalk tree pits, and discussed creating or updating city DPW standards; the group reviewed timing and cost considerations for FlexiPave installation and options to protect young street trees.
Board members reported ongoing watering and generally good survival after a hot spell but noted some likely replacements after last year’s drought. The group then turned to sidewalk tree pits installed during a recent sidewalk project and questioned the backfill material and specifications used for those pits.
Why it matters: tree-pit backfill and structural-soil choices influence tree health and long-term survival in paved environments. Board members said pits with heavy stone or structural mixes should still include good topsoil in the planting well to support tree roots.
A board member asked whether specifications for the work were available; Paul (named in the meeting) said he would ask the Transportation, Mobility and Parking Department (TMP) for the project specifications and that the city typically defers to DOT engineering standards for such projects. One participant noted Cornell’s structural-soil mixes often look “more like stone than soil” and emphasized that when concrete is directly adjacent to a tree, engineered structural solutions or a combination of structural modules and quality topsoil are appropriate.
The board discussed protective measures and finishes for established pits. Participants reported the city’s restoration (patch) contract includes prices for FlexiPave in tree pits and explained that the typical practice is to wait one year after planting before installing FlexiPave, though some projects may wait two years or longer if the tree looks suspect. One staff member noted FlexiPave costs “$35 to $40 a square foot,” explaining the fiscal reason to confirm the trees have survived before investing in the surface treatment.
Other protective options discussed included knee rails and low metal curbing to keep pedestrians out of tree pits; attendees said knee rails have been effective in some locations and typically are 14–16 inches high.
No formal policy was adopted. Staff offered to request TMP project specifications, explore developing DPW engineering-standard language for tree pits and consider including FlexiPave and other protective treatments in future specification guidance. The group also noted the restoration contract allows the city to do FlexiPave on pits that survive for a year under that contract’s pricing schedule.
