Gillespies presents: Urban greening

Urban planting is most valuable when it is treated as infrastructure rather than decoration. 

In dense towns and cities, trees and planting influence how streets, squares and developments look, feel and function. They can provide shade, support biodiversity, soften hard surfaces and create more comfortable places to walk, meet and spend time together.

Achieving these benefits requires more than just adding greenery after the made design decisions have been made. Planting needs sufficient space, suitable soil and access to water, as well as a clear understanding of how it will establish and mature. When considered from the outset, it can become part of the structure of a place, shaping the routes throughout it and defining how people connect with the space.

The positions of trees also determines how they contribute to public life. A canopy over seating can create a comfortable place to pause, while a line of trees can define a route or establish continuity along a street. In a square, groups of trees can provide a more sheltered setting at the edges without limiting the flexibility of the central space. Planting beneath trees can extend their contribution at ground level. Shrubs, perennials, and groudcover help soften the transition between trunks and hard paving, while creating further opportunities for micro habitats and seasonal change. These areas must still consider access and maintenance especially when beside a busy pedestrian route.

Trees are long-term elements of the city, so stewardship is fundamental. Their value increases as they mature, but only if there is a clear approach to establishment, watering, maintenance, and eventual replacement. Designing with trees means considering not only how they appear at completion, but how they will grow and shape the experience of a place over many years.

Urban planting does not need to rely on trees alone. Combining canopies with shrubs, perennials, and grasses creates landscapes with great depth and variety. Each layer can perform a different role: shrubs can define edges or create enclosures while lower planting brings texture and seasonal details for example. Used together multiple layers can frame routes, mark thresholds and create a gradual transition between buildings and public space.

Layered planting can also support a wider range of wildlife by providing different forms of shelter and resources, which requires thoughtful species selection and an understanding of how the planting will develop - not just simply providing the greatest number of varieties. Seasonality is central to this approach. Flower, foliage, seed heads and changing colours can give a landscape a different character through the year. Plants should be composed so that the overall structure remains clear as individual species emerge, recede or become dormant.

This requires a balance between richness and legibility. Planting can feel generous without overwhelming the spaces around it. Heights and densities need to maintain important views, keep entrances visible and allow people to move comfortably. In residential or workplace landscapes, the careful use of planting can create quieter areas while preserving a sense of connection and safety.

Successful planting must also reflect the realities of its setting. Urban landscapes may face wind, heat, compacted ground and intensive use. Plant choices should respond to these conditions and to the level of maintenance that can be sustained over time. A well-designed scheme anticipates change. Some plants will establish quickly while others may take years to reach their intended scale. Maintenance should guide this development rather than attempt to hold the landscape in the condition seen on its opening day.