The City Council of Seville has installed burlap nets on 130 newly planted trees in historic parks to protect them from high temperatures and promote their rooting.
The City Council of Seville, through the Parks and Gardens Delegation, has placed burlap nets on 130 newly planted trees in various historic parks across the city. The initiative, focused on the Gardens of Delicias, María Luisa Park, the Princes' Park, and the Murillo Gardens, aims to enhance protection against high temperatures and support the proper rooting of the specimens.
A preventive measure to improve rooting
Trees from nurseries undergo a period of physiological stress after transplantation, during which they allocate a significant portion of their resources to regenerating roots and adapting to new conditions. In this phase, species with thin bark may suffer damage from overheating of the trunk, such as cracks or loss of vegetative vigor.
The burlap is placed around the trunk as a shading and thermal insulation element. It reduces the direct incidence of solar radiation, especially in the first years after planting. The Parks and Gardens delegate, Evelia Rincón, has highlighted that “this action demonstrates that tree policy does not end when a specimen is planted. In a city like Seville, with increasingly demanding summers, it is essential to implement accompanying measures to ensure that these trees consolidate their development.”
Special attention to the most sensitive species
The work focuses on species such as orange trees, ashes, poplars, willows, albizias, bauhinias, and jacarandas, which during their early years have thin bark vulnerable to intense solar radiation. Many of these specimens have grown grouped in nurseries, sharing shade, so when moving to an isolated location in public space, they need additional support.
The burlap net is breathable, allowing for trunk ventilation and preventing issues associated with impermeable or plastic protectors, which can generate condensation and diseases. The measure is preventive and is particularly applied to specimens more exposed to direct sunlight, due to their south or southwest orientation or being in areas with less vegetation cover.
More survival, more shade, and better conservation of green heritage
From the perspective of green heritage management, the temporary placement of burlap constitutes a low-cost and highly effective action. It increases the survival probabilities of newly planted trees, reduces the risk of irreversible damage, and accelerates the establishment process.
“We are planting more trees, but we are also improving the way we care for them. Every tree that thrives is an investment in shade, biodiversity, and quality of life for the residents,” added Rincón. The action will continue for those specimens that show greater exposure to the sun or require additional protection during the hottest months. For the residents of Seville, this measure means that historic parks will maintain their tree cover in better condition, providing more shade and a healthier environment in the long term.
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