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Shrubs are often used for side slope greening and protection in the urban landscape. Only a few species are commonly used in the European city environment, bestowing upon cities a monotonous appearance. The aim of this 3-year trial, set up at Fondazione Minoprio (Vertemate con Minoprio; Como, Italy), was to evaluate the performance of 25 shrub species grown on a slope during three seasons (2007–09). Moreover, to evaluate the influence of weeds on plant growth and the weeding time, two mulches (biodegradable textile and polypropylene fabric) were used in comparison with bare soil (control). Shrubs were planted in late Spring 2007. To simulate urban conditions, no pruning or disease control were applied. Irrigation was carried out only in the driest periods of the first summer. Plant height and percent cover were measured every 2 months, whereas plant phenology and state of health were recorded weekly. Chlorophyll fluorescence and chlorophyll content were evaluated on two different drought-tolerant species during the third growing season. At the end of the trial shoot biomass was measured and root characteristics (root density and specific root length) were determined. Weeds were removed twice in the first and third years and three times in the second year. Time for weed removal was recorded for each experimental plot. Results show that the highest growth (height and biomass) was detected in mulched plots, probably because of both limited weed competition for water and nutrients and lower water loss by evaporation. Plants grown in bare soil showed higher root density and finer roots compared with mulched plants; this may be explained by the necessity of the plant root system to explore the soil to reach for water. Differences in growth, groundcovering, and root characteristics were observed among species. As a result of higher mulching cost and the poorer root characteristics of mulched plants, bare soil and fast growing shrubs should be used to limit weed competition and assure a satisfactory slope greening and consolidation.

This experiment investigated the effect of different container design on growth and root deformation of littleleaf linden (Tilia cordata Mill.) and field elm (Ulmus minor Mill.). The trial was carried out over two growing seasons (2008 to 2009). In April 2008, 1-year-old bare-root seedlings of the two species were potted in three types of 1-L containers: Superoots® Air-Cell™ (The Caledonian Tree Company, Pathhead, UK), Quadro fondo rete (Bamaplast, Massa e Cozzile, Italy), and smooth-sided containers. At the beginning of the second growing season, the same plants were repotted in the following 3-L containers: Superoots® Air-Pot™ (The Caledonian Tree Company), Quadro antispiralizzante (Bamaplast), and smooth-sided containers. At the end of each growing season, a subset of the plants from each container type was harvested to determine shoot and root dry mass and root deformation (by dry weight of root deformed mass relative to the whole root mass). Chlorophyll fluorescence and leaf chlorophyll content were measured during the second growing season. For both species, at the end of first growing season, the poorest root architecture was observed in the smooth-sided containers, whereas Superoots® Air-Cell™ and Quadro fondo rete both reduced the percentage of deformed root mass. At the end of the second growing season, plants of both species grown in Superoots® Air-Pot™ showed less deformed root mass, whereas Quadro antispiralizzante provided good results only in littleleaf linden. A reduction of field elm root biomass and littleleaf linden shoot biomass was observed at the end of the trial in plants grown in Superoots® Air-Pot®. Plants grown in these containers showed less leaf chlorophyll content compared with plants grown in smooth-sided containers at the end of the second year.