By adding moisture to the air, the air becomes cooler. Urban Soils Trees take the nutrients they need directly from the soil.
Urban soils vary from good to unbelievably terrible.
Roots have a hard time penetrating Chicago area soil, which is typically clayey and has poor drainage. Along the lakefront, the soil is often sandy. Urban soils often have rocks and rubble mixed in as well. Chicago area soil is generally alkaline, which means it has a high pH. This makes it difficult for some trees to extract the essential nutrients they need. The Pin Oak and Red Maple, in particular, do not do well in alkaline soil.