Any opinions of Sac's Shade Tree Ordinance for Parking lots?

[KC6ZLV]

There is more to consider than just planting trees. What works in Sacramento's Mediterranean climate may not work as well where there is continuous heat stress. For example, not many places in Fresno have a good tree canopy, and I've seen the foliage dry out and drop form trees in parking lots there after major heatwaves. A better example is to look at the trees in Bakersfield. The heat there really slows down the growth. The shadiest neighborhoods in Bakersfield have trees a third the size of the trees in Sacramento.

[SFBayBoomer]

Originally Posted by KC6ZLV

There is more to consider than just planting trees. What works in Sacramento's Mediterranean climate may not work as well where there is continuous heat stress. For example, not many places in Fresno have a good tree canopy, and I've seen the foliage dry out and drop form trees in parking lots there after major heatwaves. A better example is to look at the trees in Bakersfield. The heat there really slows down the growth. The shadiest neighborhoods in Bakersfield have trees a third the size of the trees in Sacramento.

Are they the same species? Were they planted at similar times?

[Adamson865]

As a desert resident, the idea is ridiculous and Phoenix would be insane to implement it. Here in the Coachella Valley, many new parking lots are being constructed with solar panels to serve as a shade canopy. Instead of forcing more trees where they aren't needed, the trend here is to *remove* non-native landscaping and go back to the desert landscape in order to save water. Comparing Phoenix with Sacramento and saying they're both "hot" is just plain nuts. I used to walk home from work from UCDMC to midtown, and let me tell you - a 98-degree day with a Delta Breeze at the end of the day is nothing compared to 118 in the shade and 3" of rain a year here in Palm Springs.

[Chimérique]

Originally Posted by rah62

As a desert resident, the idea is ridiculous and Phoenix would be insane to implement it. Here in the Coachella Valley, many new parking lots are being constructed with solar panels to serve as a shade canopy. Instead of forcing more trees where they aren't needed, the trend here is to *remove* non-native landscaping and go back to the desert landscape in order to save water. Comparing Phoenix with Sacramento and saying they're both "hot" is just plain nuts. I used to walk home from work from UCDMC to midtown, and let me tell you - a 98-degree day with a Delta Breeze at the end of the day is nothing compared to 118 in the shade and 3" of rain a year here in Palm Springs.

In defense of the OP, it makes sense to provide shade, but not sure if deciduous shade trees is the right approach unless Phx has significant ground water and/or an underground "river" of some source. But they still only get 8 inches of rain and their rain DOES NOT come in a "long raining season" where the rain comes steady and over longer periods of time so it can be easily absorbed, instead of running off into "washes" into the dry desert.

It makes sense in Sacramento because we have two rivers, several year long, and seasonal creeks that naturally flow through Sacramento, and because we receive 3 to 4 times the amount of rainfall.

Also, If left in a completely natural state Sacramento is a "field of grass and rich soil" versus a "field of cactus, stone and rock" in Phoenix.