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Complete canopy closure
Miami, Florida planted live oaks along the street and set them back about 8 feet from the edge of the road. Trees gained tremendous size due to the almost unlimited access roots had to soil space. Roots were able to grow into adjacent lawns of the homes along this street.
Trees were planted about 50 feet apart. Because trees were spaced this far apart, they began to grow aggressive lower limbs. Lower limbs are drooping, creating a more spreading habit than would have occurred with closer spacing. Although the spreading habit is fine for parks and perhaps other places where vehicles and pedestrians do not have to pass under the canopy, it has little place in the urban and suburban landscape.
The lower limbs must be pruned or removed to allow passage. This increases maintenance costs and can encourage unhealthy urban forest by initiating decay in the large pruning cuts that are necessary. Plant trees closer than this in order to create an urban forest.
