Urban Greening: A Case Study to Determine the Efficacy of Using Low Maintenance Planters as a Means of Growing Plants in Chicago Urban Settings

Abstract

This paper describes an experiment designed to test a planter system that can be used by urban residents in greening rooftops, balconies and patios. Design emphasis was on inexpensive planter construction, low seasonal maintenance requirements, and ease of replacement of plant material. Additionally, four plant species were tested for survival over one year within the core area of Chicago. The planters recycled natural rainfall, requiring no additional watering after setup through the growing season. Plant growth and mortality over the summer varied, as did over winter survival. Plant survival rates through the end of the growing season in the planter systems were 83% for Rhus copallina, 100% for Juniperus horizontalis, 78% for Sedum spectabile, and 89% for Schyzachyrium scoparium. All species lived through the winter season in the system planters. R. copallina had the highest mortality rate with 80% of plants alive at the end of the growing season not surviving the winter. The control site with plants directly in soil had the highest over winter rates of survival; all plants alive at the end of the growing season survived through the winter. Surface and soil temperature comparisons through the winter season show that this design provided little insulating effect.