198 tiveness of mixed compost as mulching material in the urban environment in a Mediterranean climate. The mulch properties that may have increased plant growth and whole-canopy gas exchange include: the reduction of soil temperature; the maintenance of soil moisture through the reduction of evapora- tion; more efficient water use, allowing more car- bon to be fixed per unit water transpired; and the slow release of nutrients, as reported in a previous study carried out in similar climate conditions but in experimental plots (Fini and Ferrini 2011). Thus, mulching with compost looks to be an effective, low cost, and highly environmentally friendly tech- nique to improve health, growth, and benefits of urban trees growing in the Mediterranean climate. Acknowledgments. Thanks to Dr. Alberto Santini for his kind cooperation to this research and for having provided the starting material. We also thank the Direzione Ambiente, Servizio Qualità del Verde, Comune di Firenze for providing the experimental plot, the hand labor and the help provided for establishing the research plot. Work was carried out inside the Laboratorio per la ricerca nel settore vivaistico-ornamentale (LABVIVA), funded by Uniser Consortium Pistoia. LITERATURE CITED Appleton, B.L., J.F. Derr, and B.B. Ross. 1990. The effect of various landscape weed control measures on soil moisture and tempera- ture, and tree root growth. Journal of Arboriculture 16:264–268. Arnold, M.A., G.V. McDonald, and D.L. Bryan. 2005. Planting depth and mulch thickness affect establishment of green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) and bougainvillea goldenraintree (Koelreuteria bipinnata). Journal of Arboriculture 31:163–170. Chalker-Scott, L. 2007. Impact of mulches on landscape plants and environment: A review. Journal of Environmental Horticulture 25(4):239–249. Cogger, C.G. 2005. 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