Nationwide Delivery – Soils, Aggregates & Construction Waste Management
Canary Wharf: Moisture retaining soils
Healthy thriving landscapes in drought periods
It was an extremely hot and dry summer in 2022. At Canary Wharf, the landscape management team were exploring methods of saving lawns and planted areas. Strict watering regimes were in place. Inevitably the effects of continuous dry periods were creating ongoing maintenance struggles.
Discussions began between Paul Griffiths, Landscape Manager at Canary Wharf Group and Tom Collins of Fytobooster UK. Tom is renowned for his knowledge, experience and development of wetting agents and sustainable substrates within agriculture and horticulture.
Horticulturally unique, the diverse landscapes in Canary Wharf arch over car parks, around shopping malls and feature green roofs and planters. Tom proposed the Fytocell flakes. These offer a moisture-retaining additive beneath the soil. The landscape team introduced a layer into each of the planters across the site as well as a crumbed mix for topsoil and lawn treatments.
The positive results across the lawn areas were noticeable. The flakes and crumbed Fytocell material helped the substrate hold oxygen and moisture, and there was a distinct reduction in drying out.
Optimal air:water ratio
Rolling out its use into planters across the development, the Fytocell benefits were also experienced in two of the largest expanses in the complex. The roof garden at Jubilee Park spans the top of the tube station and at Canada Park the green space covers a shopping mall. Both areas are prone to flooding and are equally susceptible to drying out as the ground is very compacted. Completed in 2022, there is still some progress to be made, but moisture retention is much improved, says Paul.
Fytobooster substrates help provide the optimal air:water ratio for healthy rooting and water conservation. It is 100% bio-disposable, sterile and compostable. It is with its application in a 75mm layer underneath the soils within the hostile mitigation planters where the Fytocell has really made a difference. The plants sit on top of its layer and, as these are hand-watered, this has greatly improved the plants’ moisture retention between watering schedules.
Biodiversity within the soil
Whilst its inclusion is an additional cost in material and application, its savings in watering and labour are already paying dividends. This has been further demonstrated with its use within a biodiverse soil beneath a living roof. Mounds of topsoil and wildflower seeds replaced the sedum layer and the plants are thriving and healthy.
“Go-to planting solution”
Tom and Paul continue to explore the applications, use and benefits. These could extend to top-seeding; annual applications beneath replacement lawns; or in the wider planting environment. Tom has suggested wetting agents and alternative chemicals to consider using within the irrigation. He continues to be a useful asset for soil science and planting knowledge. The Canary Wharf plan is to use the substrates project-wide, wherever possible. For any switching out of planters and soil areas, it is proving to be their go-to planting solution for water retention.
MCM Technical Development
At MCM, the Technical Team is exploring the potential of Fytobooster substrates in lightweight and moisture-retaining soil blends – a welcome boost for landscape creation, plant health and establishment as our climate adapts to drier periods.
