Why Are Urban Trees Dying Despite Regular Maintenance?

City Matters | Making Cities Work | 7-min Read

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Hey guys, this is Ar.Ruchika here. And while I understand the complexities of urban planning, infrastructure and ecological design, I am a damn human being too! And honestly, the way we treat our urban trees, especially at a time when our cities are worse than ovens troubles me! 

Look at these numbers, for example. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) recorded 655 tree-fall incidents in 2022, 687 in 2023, 653 in 2024, and 855 in 2025. And even Bengaluru is not different guys! We had 1,222 uprooted trees and 2585 snapped branches just between May & September. Now, of course these figures don’t tell us that many urban trees are dying, nor can we attribute it to a single cause. But, they do raise serious questions on how we plan, protect, assess and maintain the trees that cool our cities! 

And mind you, it’s not just cooling! No! We won’t get shade without them. We won’t have ecosystems. Food. Clean air. Insects. Soil. Pollution Barriers. Basically our comfort! Comfort, the very core of architecture. Now, as an architect, I know that planning and design decisions can literally influence whether a tree survives for decades. But it’s not a single man’s play obviously. We need good developers, contractors, municipal authorities, policy makers, citizens, everyone in this! Because simply complaining won’t get us anywhere! 

So in this article, let’s examine the problem from every angle! Why are urban trees struggling to survive despite regular maintenance? Where are we going wrong? And most importantly, what can we do about it so that we each have one actionable step by the end of this article.

Why Are Urban Trees Struggling to Survive in Indian Cities?

So urban trees basically struggle to survive in Indian cities since we take them for granted. Think about it. What do we give them? A tiny planting pit? Compacted soil with concrete touching their stem? Underground utility lines in between their roots? And yes, let’s not even forget the random construction activity, unplanned branch chopping, irregular watering and the great woke’s who stick banners on their bark. 

In fact, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has even listed some assessment and tree-maintenance factors (I am afraid if we even follow them though!). Some of them are: 

• Restricted Rooting Space: There must be some usable soil volume for the mature tree. So, assess the dimensions of the planting pit (approx 3-6 feet), soil depth (at least 1m.), surrounding paving, foundations and root penetration.
• Soil Compaction: Inspect whether construction equipment, vehicles, or pedestrian traffic have compressed the soil. Like, you can eventually look for signs for hard layers, low porosity, clay-like texture, unusually high resistance while probing the ground, poor infiltration, etc.
• Insufficient Soil Depth & Underground Obstructions: Try to use soil-profile inspections, test pits or augers to look for shallow bedrock, hardpan, buried concrete or rubble. See, not every stone is harmful obviously; but the depth, fracturing and rock continuity might affect root penetration and drainage. 
• Underground and Overhead Utilities: Verify the locations of all the water pipes, sewers, electrical cables, and other buried infrastructure via their service drawings before excavation. Also assess overhead power lines, lighting, signs, and building clearances against the tree’s mature dimensions beforehand.
• Species Selection: And finally, it’s very very important to use local urban trees, say Bahava, Neem or Arjuna that can withstand Indian sunlight, uneven pH, salinity, drainage and watering.

What Does Research Tell Us About the Survival of Urban Trees? 

Okay, so I’ll basically give you a really quick literature review. One paper examined over 56 tree studies along the streets, residential yards and landscape parks. However, its findings told us how urban tree survival varies with species, surroundings and management. In fact, the authors (Deborah R. Hilbert Lara A. Roman Andrew K. Koeser Jess Vogt and Natalie S. van Doorn, Arboriculture & Urban Forestry (AUF) September 2019, 45 (5) 167-200; DOI: https://doi.org/10.48044/jauf.2019.015) also identified stewardship, i.e. ethical responsibility, maintenance and vandalism among the human-related factors of urban tree mortality. 

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Then another one by Petrova, Michael and Pratt (2025) identified pests and diseases as the main urban tree death cause in over 81% studies. However, the scale of variation is worth noting too! A 2019 urban tree mortality literature review for example reported annual mortality rated from 0.6% to 68.5% for example. And that’s basically because of tremendous differences in study settings, populations and conditions; it isn’t a single mortality rate for Indian cities. But yes, the review found that most urban trees died in the first 5 years only. 

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So, where does that leave us? Basically, we cannot simply assume that every dying tree needs water, fertilizer and pruning. We need to understand the specific conditions affecting each tree, beginning with the ground beneath it. And that’s where we should look next: what is actually killing urban trees, even when they appear to be receiving regular maintenance?

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What Is Actually Killing Urban Trees?

See, urban tree decline isn’t only about inadequate watering or maintenance. Instead, it’s more about planting, construction and inappropriate maintenance here in India. Here’s what the evidence tells us:

• Insufficient Soil volume: Do you know that a June 2026 survey of 1,115 roadside trees in Mumbai found that 684 (61.34%) had fully or partially concretised bases? And that too when the Indian Roads mandates an open tree-pit of at least 1.8 X 1.8m with a 1.25 X 2.6m option for narrow footpaths? So yes, mature trees have no soil left. Their roots are damaged. And, there’s no oxygen. 
• Poor Aeration: Our next offender is the great road construction obviously! Now, these footpaths, resurfacing, utilities, machineries, everything compacts the soil. So the pores are obviously clogged and it’s all clay and dust. 
• Concretisation: Replacing footpaths, widening roads, installing cables and repairing drains; literally everything has damaged mature urban trees. Plus, there’s murrum, gravel fill, construction debris and undocumented drainage infrastructure that restricts the growing area!
• Poor Drainage: Mr. Madhav Gupta, one of our leading plant experts, told me that over 30% of the existing urban trees in Pune might have damaged rootballs. One, they don’t receive enough water. And even if they do, the surrounding soil prevents it from infiltrating. Then two, the flashflood water doesn’t drain away due to concrete. So, it’s either ultra-drought or ultra-flood; no in-between!
• Inappropriate Pruning: We all have seen people pruning urban trees like crazy. But then when crown removal is excessive or uneven, it increases the imbalance, pests, birds, solar exposure & dust. In fact, a 2006 study even found a significant reduction in leaf area, chlorophyll and plant protein due to this.

Why Does Regular Maintenance Fail to Save Urban Trees?

See, regular maintenance is essential obviously. But it might be failing due to lack of funds, equipment, corruption and carelessness. And then it doesn’t even compensate for a cramped planting space, damaged roots, unsuitable soil or poor drainage. Next, there’s issues with contractor responsibilities, monitoring & data collection as well. Here are some of our observations:

• Treating Symptoms: Like, only treating symptoms. Yellowing leaves might prompt someone to add more water or fertilizer. But the actual issue might be much deeper w.r.t the compacted soil, root damage, waterlogging, soil depth or so.
• Failure to Measure Long-term Survival: See, a plantation drive might show lakhs of urban trees planted on paper; but their survival rate remains a joke. Take Mumbai’s CAG Audit for example. It reported that only 2004 of 3735 transplanted trees had survived over two years. So yes, we need deeper data; only planting or transplantation numbers cannot establish success. 
• Ending Aftercare: Newly planted or transplanted urban trees obviously need time to adjust their roots right? So, yes, ending aftercare, watering and fertilization just in a few weeks will kill them. Even ICFRE quoted a survival rate of just 40-45% in 12,852 transplanted trees due to lack of aftercare, weeding and watering in Delhi. 
• Lack of Co-ordination: See activities ain’t co-ordinated. Road agencies repair footpaths, but then a utility provider might excavate trenches and harm its roots. Then, a contractor might dig that road again, level it and compact the root zone. So, there’s no shared mapping as such.

Quick Note: So yes, the larger lesson’s that the maintenance should be measured by the condition and survival of trees; that too by GIS or census. It’s not gonna add up otherwise. 

How Can Architects and Landscape Designers Prevent the Decline of Urban Trees? 

So now that you know why urban trees ain’t surviving, let’s see what we can do as architects. I have a few ideas below:

• Preserve Existing Mature Trees: I know, we already do that; but this one’s for the illegal encroachments I have seen around my area. Please, Please do not cut 50 year-old & above trees. One, they come under heritage-tree classification. And two, they reduce urban heat & CO2. Instead, map root-protection areas, footpaths, utilities rightly. 
• Choose On-site Species: Do test your site’s pH, salinity, texture & drainage. Go for Neem (Azadirachta Indica), Karanj (Pongamia Pinnata), Acacia Nilotica, and Albizia Procera if it’s alkaline. Or maybe Palash, Tamarind (Tamarindus indica) and Ailanthus Excelsa for dry land. 
• Let Roots Breathe:  See, a tiny square surrounded by concrete won’t provide sufficient rooting space to urban trees. Instead, try connecting soil trenches, soil vaults or engineered soil cells for better air flow. Or best, use those permeable pavers with Creeping Thyme, Irish Moss or Wedelia in between.They might look costly but these reduce compaction, improve drainage and protect your foundations too! 
• Expose the Root Flare: Look for the root flare i.e the point where the trunk splits in the main roots. Try to remove the loose litter and loosen the soil there. Also consult an arborist to remove the construction fill or additional soil.
• Make Fertilizer Balls: I do this myself; Just get citrus peels, cow dung ash, flower petals, a bit of NPK fertilizer & neem crush. Make a dough, roll it and throw it along the soil (even from your car maybe!)
• Use Companion Planting: Consider adding low-growing ground covers like Moss Rose, Monkey Grass, Wedelia, Dwarf Periwinkle in large, healthy tree beds. Alternatively, stick to mulch if there’s too much sun and less water. 

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What Must the Government Do to Protect Urban Trees?

I know I am no one to instruct the government. But even then I have a few ideas that might save some urban trees:

• Fine Contractors who Damage Trees: I think it’s high time to charge heavy penalties from any contractors who severe roots, bury root flares, cover tree pits with concrete or dump construction waste around them. Plus, they should also bear the cost of restoring the damaged soil & its aftercare, just like the Mysuru City Corporation made them do! 
• Responsible Replacement Planting: See, construction might cause a tree’s death at times. But then, the contractor should fund replacement planting as per applicable laws. In fact, I feel we must also include maintenance, financial guarantees and survival monitoring till restoration. 
• Punish People Too: No exceptions for people too! I mean we have anti-littering by-laws & all. But municipalities should definitely use spot-fines for anyone dumping plastic wrappers, food waste and construction around urban trees. I think the BMC has already issued over 90 lakhs in fines for 5,200 such violators. 
• Tree-Protection Laws: I know Maharashtra’s (Urban Areas) Protection & Preservation of Trees Act, 1975 already penalizes over ₹1 lakh & imprisonment under Section 21. But, this must extend beyond unauthorised cutting to tree-poisoning, arboricide and random, haphazard pruning as well. 
• Publish Survival Records: Urban tree survival records ain’t public; let’s be honest. But, municipalities should try and report tree losses, compensatory planting, survival rates, citizen and contractor violations openly! Only then will it make a difference! 

See, our cities can’t afford to treat urban trees as “obstacles to development;” NOT NOW! So yes, laws, penalties, accountability and records are eventually a must! Every failed plantation demands answers. And then, every public project must talk about trees too! We need the “POLITICAL WILL” to keep them alive! 

How Can We Measure Whether Our Urban Trees Are Actually Thriving?

Well, a tree isn’t healthy just because it hasn’t died yet! And if we do want to have healthy urban trees, we need to eventually monitor them using either of the following ways: 

• Track Survival Please: I guess we need to have complete data on how many saplings survive after 1, 3 & 5 years. I think Maharashtra is a good example; where the compensatory plantations must survive for at least 7 years, with replacements for trees that die! Others can replicate it too!
• Measure: Measure the trunk girth, canopy spread and tree height regularly. This will eventually help you differentiate established & struggling trees rightly. 
• Adopt: Try to adopt 1 tree and check its soil, look for plastic waste around its base and water it during dry spells if needed! Trust me, even a little regular attention can help identify problems correctly! 
• Reuse Dry Leaves: Do ask your society’s gardener to reuse dry, fallen leaves as mulch instead of disposing it. This will eventually retain moisture, reduce weeds and keep the trunk clear. 
• Check Tree Guards & Supports: You can also adjust or remove any wires, metal guards or small & broken tree supports that might be pressing and chipping off the bark. 
• Avoid Piling: Pebbles can look attractive; I know! But simply adding them to a plant bed won’t solve poor drainage, rooting issues or anything. Instead, place them along the tree bed’s perimeter and leave breathing space near the root flare. 
• No Trenching: Always check your major tree roots. Like, avoid digging & installing any garden lights, irrigation pipes or service lines near mature roots. They’ll either damage the roots, or break themselves.

Caution: Avoid drilling into trunks, nailing decorations into bark or wrapping tight wires around branches, as this may damage their phloem beyond repair. 

FAQs

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A Small Change to Start This Month

So now, we have so many ways & ideas to protect our urban trees, right? But trust me, I know that it’s obviously impossible to implement everything at once. So for the next two months, can we all focus on keeping the root flare visible and waste free? Also, just don’t dump all your leftover water in the sink’ you can pour it around a tree instead! 

Plus, water trees when the soil needs it. Especially during hot, dry weather! I know such small actions won’t solve every problem, not with urban trees at least! But they are a real practical place to begin! What say? 

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Editorial Note: City Matters presents Archwhispers’ independent perspectives on pressing urban issues and possible solutions. Our content is non-partisan and does not represent any political affiliation. Archwhispers is not responsible for political interpretations or disagreements arising from our editorial opinions.

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Citations & Credits

• https://india.mongabay.com/2026/09/as-city-trees-fall-experts-point-to-poor-planning-and-civic-apathy/ 
• https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/cover-story/fall-by-the-wayside/articleshow/134752880.cms 
• https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/trees-don-t-just-fall-they-are-failed-by-cities-101784021869430.html 
• https://research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/58772 
• https://auf.isa-arbor.com/content/45/5/167 
• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12084175/
• https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/mumbai-news/6134-audited-trees-in-12-areas-trapped-in-concrete-101782932543569.html
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17436536/ 
• https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/cag-audit-only-54-pc-trees-transplanted-by-bmc-in-18-20-survived-7839557/lite/  
• https://english.icfre.gov.in/UserFiles/File/Annaul-Reports-English/Annual-Report-2022-23/AnnualReport2022-23.pdf 
• https://citygreen.com/how-landscape-architects-plant-trees/ 
• https://www.esc.nsw.gov.au/property/vegetation-and-tree-removal/protecting-trees-on-development-sites?utm_source=chatgpt.com 
• https://citygreen.com/how-landscape-architects-plant-trees/ 
• https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysuru/mcc-to-fine-contractors-for-blocking-tree-percolation-space/articleshow/121322272.cms 
• https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/others/fine-for-illegal-felling-of-tree-now-1-lakh-101628526615870.html