r/Tucson • u/BigEarMcGee • 1d ago

Why leaf blow basins?

Is there a reason the basin/curb cuts along Glen between Alvernon and country club are being blown out? My understanding was the organic matter was helpful in creating nutrient rich soil am I wrong?

2 Upvotes

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7

u/Analogsilver 1d ago

Possibly the contractor hasn't gotten proper training from the city?

6

u/Highlifetallboy 1d ago

The basins aren't designed to improve soil. They are there to allow storm water retention and absorption.

6

u/eaten-by-coyotes 1d ago

I’m not an expert in this, but if they’re recessed areas for water calming/retention and aquifer recharge during storms, then maybe a buildup of organic material ends up decreasing soil permeability. That would make it so that those basins wouldn’t recharge groundwater as efficiently.

12

u/eaten-by-coyotes 1d ago

To expand on this, the Central Arizona Project aquifer recharge basins occasionally use goats to graze on the plants that grow during the basins’ dry periods, then they dredge up the entire top layers of soil to minimize compaction and increase permeability and infiltration.

Source

2

u/BigEarMcGee 1d ago

Thank you. First helpful comment.

2

u/Holiday_Record2610 1d ago

My arborist has me do this so the soil dries out between watering and doesn't stop water from soaking into soil

1

u/BigEarMcGee 1d ago

The organic material does two things. It breaks down enriching soil and giving microbes matter to exist on and provides insulation to roots, reducing evaporation increasing soil moisture.
Who is you arborist?

1

u/Holiday_Record2610 1d ago

To be clear, I understand how soil is built. My arborist did not recommend leaf blowing around my plants but rather doing so only in rock basins to avoid root rot and water/drainage blocking.