Tree pruning causes damage either way (2)
Having visited the reservoir beneath Great Siege Square on a number of occasions, it is clear the damage being inflicted by the roots of the ficus nitida trees above is becoming serious. Although no longer serving as a water storage vessel, the old...
Having visited the reservoir beneath Great Siege Square on a number of occasions, it is clear the damage being inflicted by the roots of the ficus nitida trees above is becoming serious. Although no longer serving as a water storage vessel, the old cocciopesto waterproofing lining has in many places been spalled away by root action and in their search for water they have propagated through numerous rock fissures and masonry joints, in some instances splitting the stone as they grow in diameter.
Some years ago the Valletta Rehabilitation Project painstakingly cleaned and surveyed the reservoir together with the adjoining air-raid shelter. The root problem, however, can only be solved with the removal of the trees above.
I am by no means a botanist; however, it is clear that such zealous pruning will only strengthen the roots, exacerbating the damage to the fabric of the reservoir, which is almost 450 years old.
The same can be said about the situation in St John’s Square. An idea would be to replace the present species with citrus trees allowing adequately contained rooting space.