2. 2
‫ملخص‬
:‫الى‬ ‫عموما‬ ‫العملية‬ ‫الدراسه‬ ‫هذه‬ ‫تهدف‬
o‫المساحات‬ ‫حالة‬ ‫تدهور‬ ‫في‬ ‫تسهم‬ ‫التي‬ ‫والعناصر‬ ‫العوامل‬ ‫أهم‬ ‫الى‬ ‫واالشارة‬ ‫االنتباه‬ ‫لفت‬
. ‫أبوظبي‬ ‫جزيرة‬ ‫في‬ ‫الناميه‬ ‫الخضراء‬ ‫واالغطيه‬ ‫المشجرة‬ ‫والشوارع‬
o‫و‬ ‫الصيانه‬ ‫عمليات‬ ‫مستوى‬ ‫بانخفاض‬ ‫منها‬ ‫المرتبط‬ ‫على‬ ‫االهتمام‬ ‫تسليط‬‫كنتجه‬ ‫التشغيل‬
.‫المواقع‬ ‫بعض‬ ‫في‬ ‫االهمال‬ ‫أو‬ ‫األداء‬ ‫لتدني‬
o‫خطوات‬ ‫تحقيق‬ ‫أمل‬ ‫على‬ ، ‫المشاكل‬ ‫بعض‬ ‫لعالج‬ ‫السريعه‬ ‫االوليه‬ ‫التدابير‬ ‫بعض‬ ‫وضع‬
‫مشاريع‬ ‫خصخصة‬ ‫طريق‬ ‫عن‬ ‫العامه‬ ‫الحدائق‬ ‫ادارة‬ ‫تبنتها‬ ‫والتي‬ ‫المنال‬ ‫القريبة‬ ‫التطور‬
.‫أبوظبي‬ ‫امارة‬ ‫ضمن‬ ‫وخارجها‬ ‫أبوظبي‬ ‫جزيرة‬ ‫في‬ ‫التشجير‬
Abstract
This practical study aimed in general the followings:
 To draw attention and refer to the most important factors and
elements which contribute in deterioration of the greenery
status of the Landscape on the island of Abu Dhabi.
 The study highlighted the attention on the associated factors
that decrease the level of maintenance and operation
because of low performance or negligence in some
locations.
 It puts some rapid preliminary measures for solving some
problems, in the hope of achieving development steps that
adopted by Public Gardens Directorate through the
privatization processes of all the plantation projects in the
island of Abu Dhabi and outside within Abu Dhabi Emirate.

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MAJOR LANDSCAPE AND IRRIGATION ISSUES
EXISTING ON ABU DHABI ISLAND
PART 1 GENERAL ISSUES
An overall out look on problematic scenario of landscape and irrigation
systems of the island streets reveal several issue those are not congenial
for satisfactory plant growth. These are a resultant cause of improper
activities of the past and needs rectification.
Existing Landscape Issues:
Existing landscape issues relate to both soil and plant aspects.
Soil aspects
a. Depleted soil conditions: Due to prolonged improper management
practices, the condition of soil has been depleted to poor levels of
unsuccessful plant growth.
b. Invasion of weeds: Continuous multiplication of weed seeds over the
years has contaminated most of the garden soil of streets resulting in
abundant weed growth thus making landscape management
inefficient and costly.
c. Salt layer formation: Irregular and indiscriminate irrigation under local
condition has caused salt encrustation leading to poor performance
of plants in some areas.
d. Infestation of pest and disease: In many areas soil is infested with
soil borne pests and other pathogens mainly due to many irregular
activities.
e. Unsuitable soil structure: In several areas, soil compaction has led to
poor aeration restricting root development and ultimately affecting
healthy plant growth.
f. Absence of drainage systems: Absence of drainage systems in low
lying areas led to higher salt water levels, thus making limited plant
growth.
Planting aspects
a. Absence of proper landscape designs: Absence of specific design for
different streets creates an unimpressive landscape appearance and
often all streets look alike and monotonous.

4. 4
b. Plant density: In several places plant density is in excess to the area
available and thus appears as a jungle rather than street landscape.
c. Selection of plant types and species: Due to unsuitable selection and
mixing of plant types or species, the landscape appearance is quite
uninteresting.
d. Improper selection of plant variety: Improper selection of plant
variety for specific microclimatic conditions leading to poor growth
conditions. Eg. Sun- loving variety in shaded areas and vice versa.
e. Improper planting methods: Improper planting medium preparation,
planting methods and subsequent care caused poor root
development and thus led to shorten the life span of plants, poor
anchorage resulting leaning or falling of large trees.
f. Lack of proper care: Due to the lack of proper horticultural care,
majority of plant population exhibits undesirable growth features such
as weak plants, yellow and empty patches of lawn, un pruned or
untimely pruned plants, harvest delay in date palms etc.
g. Uncontrolled construction works: Due to some uncontrolled
construction works in the median and verges of streets cause
physical damage and destruction of landscape plants.
h. Selection of unsuitable irrigation systems: An unsuitable irrigation
method adopted without considering the actual water requirements of
plants cause excessive or inadequate irrigation supplements. Manual
watering with rubber hoses are classic examples prevalent now on
many streets.
i. Location of annual flowerbeds: On most street areas annual flower
bed locations are just as a border plant along pavements without
considering any aesthetic aspects.
j. Absence of groundcovers: Majority of landscape areas of street are
predominantly with extensive lawn thus causing increased
maintenance requirements and usage of water. Different
groundcovers suitable for the region can substitute majority of these
lawn areas thus by reducing maintenance cost and water usage at
the same time incorporating diversity on landscape appearance.
k. Many hard landscape areas are dirty, pavements exhibits settlements
and salt layers, pavement tiles covered with grass encroachments,
metal fences in the medians are dirty.
l. Absence of skilled workers: Existing field workers are not well aware
of the importance of proper construction and maintenance issues of
landscape works. This leads to poor quality works and added
expenditure without beneficial results.
Existing Irrigation System Issues:
a. Manual Irrigation: Except for the new projects, which have been,
recently completed irrigation for the Landscape area is done
manually which is unsightly and unscientific.

5. 5
b. Manual Irrigation Hose: After the manual irrigation, irrigation hoses
are left over the grass area and other landscape areas, which also
create an unsightly condition. These are a common sight on median
and verges even on important areas, palace approaches etc.
c. Rusty Valve boxes/Chamber covers: All the existing valve chambers
covers are rusty, the corners of the valve chambers is not properly
maintained and valve box covers are often kept half open to ease
opening and closing of valve for the manual irrigation. These are
dangerous and ugly looking.
d. Leak in the valve boxes: Continuous opening and closing of the
valves for manual irrigation cause wear and tear on the valve spindle
and due to this leakage occurs in the valve spindle filling valve boxes
with water.
e. Age old irrigation systems: Irrigation system is not updated with the
improved materials. Many existing system components in use are
rusted such as tapping risers low efficiency impact sprinklers, low
efficiency emitters etc.
f. Left over materials: In and around the landscape areas broken
sprinklers, lose irrigation hose, drip pipes on the walkway with water
flowing to the road.
g. Wrong installation: All the sprayers and sprinklers in and around the
city landscape areas are not properly or evenly installed. Example:
Sprayers body and valve boxes are seen above the ground level,
risers above the required height etc.
h. Lack of subsurface drainage: In low lying areas in the absence of
drainage systems, the over irrigation and the high water table levels
lead to higher salt water levels which in turn effects the plant growth.
i. Lack of awareness: Existing field staff are not concern with the
existing sight condition, water wastage and the money spent on the
maintenance issues. This leads to poor quality works and added
expenditure without beneficial results.

6. 6
Illustrations confirming the existing situations as explained above:
Depleted soil conditions: Due to prolonged improper management
practices, the condition of soil has been depleted to poor levels of
unsuccessful plant growth.
Note soil encrustation and salt accumulation patches.
Remedy:
Remove poor soil from planting areas and replace with good planting
medium according to depths required for various plant types.

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Invasion of weeds: Continuous multiplication of weed seeds over the
years has contaminated most of the garden soil of streets resulting in
abundant weed growth thus making landscape management inefficient
and costly.
Weed emergence in abundance as a result of existing weed seeds in the
soil germinating under suitable moisture conditions.
Remedy:
Choose fully pasteurized planting medium components free from weed
seeds.

8. 8
Salt layer formation: Irregular and indiscriminate irrigation under local
condition has caused salt encrustation leading to poor performance of
plants in some areas.
Salt accumulation patches evident as patches where plant growth is
restricted
Remedy:
Soil removal from affected areas and refilling with proper planting medium.
Provide drainage wherever not available.

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Infestation of pest and disease: In many areas soil is infested with soil
borne pests and other pathogens mainly due to many irregular activities.
Dead and decayed plants as a result of disease infestation due to complex
reasons.
Remedy:
Regular soil analysis to find out the cause of infestation and apply target
oriented control measures.

10. 10
Unsuitable soil structure: In several areas, soil compaction has led to
poor aeration restricting root development and ultimately affecting
healthy plant growth.
Compacted soil surface devoid of proper soil aeration restrict root growth
resulting in dead patches of grass.
Remedy:
Adopt suitable soil aeration techniques as a regular maintenance practice.
Working aeration machinery on compacted soil surface to break hardpan
of soil.

11. 11
Absence of drainage systems: Absence of drainage systems in low
lying areas led to higher salt water levels, thus making limited plant
growth.
Due to the absence of drainage system and over irrigation leads to
stagnant water pools in garden areas.
Remedy:
Survey all landscape areas and provide drainage system to drain out any
amount excess water resulting from either irrigation or higher ground
water levels.

12. 12
Plant density: In several places, plant density is in excess to the area
available and thus appears as a jungle rather than street landscape.
Selection of improper plants for street side planting, dense planting
population, absence of pruning etc. mimics the street landscape as a
jungle.
Remedy:
Right design features by choosing plants suitable for street landscape
and correct management techniques alleviate this situation.

13. 13
Selection of plant types and species: Due to unsuitable selection and
mixing of plant types or species, the landscape appearance is quite
uninteresting
Mixing of large trees and palms without proper spacing on narrow
medians results in overcrowding of plants and competition among
adjacent plants for sunlight, water and nutrients.
Remedy:
Redesign bad areas with proper plant types (size, form, spacing etc.)

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Improper planting methods: Improper planting medium preparation,
planting methods and subsequent care caused poor root development
and thus led to poor anchorage resulting leaning or falling of large trees.
Note very shallow planting and poor root system development
encouraging side ways leaning of plants finally ending with total collapse.
Remedy:
Adopt suitable planting methods by planting in proper sized and well
prepared pits allowing sufficient root development on all directions thus
enhancing balanced anchorage.

15. 15
Lack of proper care: Due to the lack of proper horticultural care,
majority of plant population exhibits undesirable growth features such as
weak plants, yellow and empty patches of lawn, un pruned, wrongly
pruned or untimely pruned plants, harvest delay in date palms etc.
Wrong pruning techniques, un pruned branches exhibit poor growth status
of the tree
Remedy:
Carry out all proper horticultural practices on a scheduled basis to
complete required works in time not to result in unwanted losses or
damage to plants.

16. 16
Uncontrolled construction works: Due to some uncontrolled
construction works in the median and verges of streets cause physical
damage and destruction of landscape plants.
Indiscriminate civil and other type of works without considering
preservation of planted areas cause severe damage to landscape areas
and monetary losses.
Remedy:
Insist to follow all regulatory measures to avoid such situations.

17. 17
Location of annual flowerbeds: On most street areas annual flower bed
locations are just as a border plant along pavements without considering
any aesthetic aspects.
Flowerbeds are arranged on median or verge borders without proper design
aspects or irrigation system.
Remedy:
Flowerbeds must be arranged in an aesthetic fashion to suit with
surrounding landscape.

18. 18
Many hard landscape areas are not looking nice, pavements exhibit
settlements and salt layers, pavement tiles covered with grass
encroachments, metal fences in the medians are dirty.
Note the encroachment of grass on pavements due to delayed maintenance
operations.
Remedy:
Timely maintenance operations to clean up pavements, fountains,
fences..etc. can retain the attractive look of hard landscape works.

19. 19
Manual Irrigation: Except for the new projects, which have been,
recently completed irrigation for the Landscape area is done manually
which is unsightly and unscientific, after the manual irrigation, irrigation
hoses are left over the grass area and other landscape areas, which also
create an unsightly condition. These are a common sight on median and
verges even on important areas, palace approaches etc.
1. Manual Watering
Note the manual watering in the median of the main street, which reflects
the beauty and inefficient of the system.
Remedy:
New Irrigation system: All the old and the manual irrigation system need to
be changed with most modern automatized irrigation systems that having
proper design features and to be implemented on a time bases. By the
implementation of this system only supervisory team will be required to
monitor the irrigation system day-to-day.

20. 20
2. Irrigation Left over the Landscape Area
Note the unsightly Irrigation hose left over after the manual irrigation near
the streets.
Remedy:
Automatic irrigation system has to be implemented, with proper design and
installed with quality material to get the maximum out put.

21. 21
All the existing valve chambers covers are rusty, the corners of the
valve chambers is not properly maintained and valve box covers are
often kept half open to ease opening and closing of valve for the
manual irrigation. These are dangerous and ugly looking.
Rusty valve boxes kept open which is hazardous, note the corners of the
concrete of the frame, which is broken, difficult to read what is written on top
of the cover.
Remedy:
Valve covers either has to be replaced or should be painted with epoxy
paint, so that wordings can be readable, round edging provided and proper
trimming of grass to be done around the valve chamber.

22. 22
Continuous opening and closing of the valves for manual irrigation
cause wear and tear on the valve spindle and due to this leakage
occurs in the valve spindle filling valve boxes with water.
Note the leak in the valve box, which is caused by the continuous opening
and closing of the valve for the manual irrigation.
Remedy:
Change the manual irrigation system into automatic irrigation system will
solve the problem.

23. 23
Irrigation system is not updated with the improved materials: Many
existing system components in use are rusted such as tapping risers low
efficiency impact sprinklers, low efficiency emitters etc.
Rusted risers used for manual Inefficient sprinklers above
watering ground
Remedy:
Risers should be replaced with Quick Valve Coupling (QCV), leveled with
the ground surface, impact sprinkler to replace by rotor sprinkler.

24. 24
In and around the landscape areas broken sprinklers, lose irrigation
hose, drip pipes on the walkway with water flowing to the road.
1. Broken sprinklers
Note the broken sprinkler left over
2. Lose Irrigation drip pipes
Unsightly lose irrigation drip tubes laying on the walkway

25. 25
All the sprayers and sprinklers in and around the city landscape areas
are not properly or evenly installed. Example: Sprayers body and valve
boxes are seen above the ground level, risers above the required
height etc.
1. Installation of Sprayers and Sprinklers
improper installation
2. Sprayer Fixing

26. 26
Existing field staff is not concern with the existing sight condition,
water wastage and the money spent on the maintenance issues. This
leads to poor quality works and added expenditure without beneficial
results.
1. Leak detection
Dried leaves kept as a stopper to prevent the flow of water from the
damaged sprayer all around the landscaped area.
Remedy:
All the leaks to be detected and rectified, valve chamber covers to be kept
closed to avoid the accidents.

27. 27
2. Manner of handling repair works

28. 28
PART 2 MAJOR STREET ISSUES ON ISLAND
Following illustrations are self-explanatory of the existing street issues on
the island.
2.1 SALAM STREET
A median along the street near the Al Bahar Palace is left un-cleaned,
leaving fallen fruits and leaves of plants
A very bad area of median with patches on lawn and weed invasion

29. 29
Congested planting without any landscape ethics mixing different type trees
and palms in a limited space.
An ugly look with neglected water hose, wood pieces, and vacant area.

30. 30
2.2 MUROOR ROAD
A very poorly arranged rockery without any aesthetic sense.
Vacant space where plants are dead, and removed but left without
replanting. Irrigation still continues.

31. 31
Chamber cover left open, which is highly dangerous, shrubs without proper
pruning, groundcovers dry and dead.
Improper design, excessive weed growth within ground cover makes the
landscape look unsightly.

32. 32
2.3 AIRPORT ROAD
Uncontrolled planting, improper pruning, lean trees, raised irrigation
components evidences a clear non-professional work.
Un pruned palms with dry leaves, mixing of unsuitable trees on the median,
poorly managed lawn with extensive patches on the verges.

33. 33
Unhealthy palms with poorly developed crown and un pruned dry leaves on
a prime location.
Topiary plants without uniform shape, un pruned lower branches on stem,
unhealthy palms irregularly planted.

34. 34
2.4 KHALEEJ AL ARAB ROAD
Dirty pavements with rusted manhole covers, valve boxes installed above
ground level, irrigation hose left unattended, poor grass growth with dry &
yellow patches, border planting without uniform spacing or irrigation system.
Unattended leakage, wastage of water, shrub ties improperly installed, poor
plant growth, untidy pavement tiles.

35. 35
Dirty verge area with vacant patches, deep ditches, and dirty pavement.
An ugly verge with dry un-mowed grass area, un-pruned trees with dry
branches and litter all around.

36. 36