Mitigating Heat on the Asphalt: The Role of Tree Planting

There are lots of people who are looking for ways to mitigate the impacts of solar heat on the pavement. Black asphalt absorbs sunlight. That is why it is significantly hotter than other surfaces that are nearby. Particularly during the summer months, it is important to find ways to mitigate the impacts of the heat on asphalt. Excess heat on asphalt can damage shoes, harm pets, and even have an impact on vehicles. One potential solution could be to plant more trees. What could be the impact of trees on commercial asphalt?

Many Cities Are Built To Retain Heat

One reason why many people are concerned about the impact of commercial asphalt and heat retention is that many other structures in urban areas have been designed to retain heat. For example, a lot of cities that have tall skyscrapers are built using a variety of other materials that absorb light. In addition to asphalt, many other structures are built with concrete, steel, and iron. These are all materials that capture and retain heat for a significant amount of time, even after the sun goes down in the evenings. In the past, there might have been vegetation in the area that could mitigate some of the impacts of solar heat. Now, these structures have been replaced by tall buildings and parking lots.

The Urban Landscape Will Only Continue to Spread

As more people continue to move to urban areas and the suburbs, the urban footprint is likely to expand. This means that many commercial landscaping and commercial construction companies are probably going to continue to build more streets, sidewalks, and parking lots. These hardscape structures are only going to increase the impacts of asphalt and solar heat issues. What can be done to address the heating issues?

Bringing Back Nature to Urban Areas

One solution could be to bring back nature. Because vegetation did a great job of mitigating the impacts of asphalt in the past, many people believed that planting trees could be a way to address this concern. For example, a lot of cities have already started to plant more trees in urban areas. Some locations have even put tax policies in place that reward commercial companies for installing gardens and trees. The entire purpose of planting more trees is to increase the amount of shade in asphalt areas.

At the same time, it is important to think carefully about where these trees are planted. Trees have to be placed in an area that is healthy for root growth. In contrast, companies in cities that are planting trees also need to make sure the root system does not damage roads and sidewalks. Trees also need to be able to survive a wide range of temperatures. Some cities that heat up during the summer can cool off significantly during the winter. That is why it is important to work with a commercial company that has experienced planting trees around asphalt locations.

Partner With a Commercial Asphalt Company

If you would like to mitigate the effects of commercial asphalt, then you should work with a company that has experience in this area. Commercial contractors spend a lot of time figuring out how to lay out roads and sidewalks. Then, they can also work with individuals and businesses to install vegetation, making the landscape look beautiful. Reach out to a commercial landscape company today to learn more about how trees might be able to keep your asphalt cool.