Tropaeolum majus, with a high decorative and food demand for vertical greening systems, has been utilized to revitalize urban agriculture. The effects of number of non-woven fabrics in a non-water environment and the adaptability of T. majus to this system were investigated. Planting ground composition of the container-type wall vertical greening system was made using non-woven fabric in one, two, three, or four layers. The results showed that the soil water content remained the highest when the non-woven fabric comprised 4 sheets. The morphological properties showed more growth with the 4 sheets than with 1, 2, and 3 sheets. In terms of physiological characteristics, chlorophyll content was mostly high in the 4 sheets, while shoot fresh weight value was in the order of 3 sheets > 4 sheets > 2 sheets > 1 sheet, and root fresh weight value was in the order of 4 sheets > 2 sheets > 1 sheet > 3 sheets. The dry weight of the measured values in the shoot was in the order of 4 sheets > 3 sheets > 2 sheets > 1 sheet while no clear difference was found in the root of each treatment. The difference in the flowring characteristics was not different, but in evaluating the characteristics as a whole, the growth in the three layers of non-waven fabric was the best. In addition, the soil moisture content and the growth characteristics were statistically significant as a positive correlation between the groups. Thus, greater the non-woven fabric, the higher is the adaptability of T. majus to dry stress under soil water-free conditions by maintaining soil moisture content. This showed that it represented an effective alternative as a method of vertical greening system for lower maintenance urban agriculture.

This study selected commonly known species of fruit trees, and re-selected the species that endure the stress of extreme cold weather and physiologically restore themselves to the previous state until the following year. Then we could go ahead to propose the species that were appropriate as urban greening plants in weather condition of any part of the country. To do this, we conducted an experiments for six species of fruit trees based on the preference of the general public and recommendation of the experts; Morus alba (English name: mulberries), Diospyros kaki (English name: Persimmon), Prunus persia (English name: Peach), Elaeagnus umbellata var. coreana (English name: Korean Autumn Olive), Malus domestica 'Alps Otome' (English name: Alps Otome), and Prunus mume (English name: Blue Plum). The experiment verifies whether the trees survive without any stress from the cold weather under the national climate conditions (one in the suburbs of Seoul: Yongin city, one in the central Chungcheong region: Daejeon city, and in the southern Gyeongsang region: Jinju city in Korea). The experiment lasted for a year from August 2016 to August 2017. The levels of electrolytic efflux, chlorophyll content, plant height, fresh weight, and dry weight were measured four times (on August of 2016, January, February, and August of 2017) for each tree planted bare ground outdoors. Results showed that Diospyros kaki, Prunus persia, and Malus domestica 'Alps Otome' were proven durable and resistant to winters of all three areas (one in the suburbs of Seoul: Yongin city, one in the central Chungcheong region: Daejeon city, and in the southern Gyeongsang region: Jinju city in Korea). Especially, the increase of chlorophyll content and the reduction of electrolytic efflux were noticeable in Prunus persia than in the other two species, proving itself as the most cold-tolerant among the six species used in the experiment. In addition, interpreting from the physiological restoration data of one-year span before and after getting through winterer, Prunus persia was proven to be the most cold-tolerant species.

This study was carried out to investigate and assess the cold tolerance of 24 species broad-leaved evergreen trees in southern region, South Korea, and propose the selection for urban greening responsive to the climate change. The cold stressed impact of each species was measured and calculated by the electrolyte leakage (EL) method, and then the lethal temperature was predicted by the non-linear regression analysis. The scattered plots and fitted curves of most species tended to show sigmoidal response curve. On assessing the EL values and sigmoidal response curve pattern with different temperature, the differences were obviously showed among all the species. Also, among the species within the same family, the differences were obviously showed. The maximum temperature difference among the species was over 10℃. Between Ilex rutunda and Ilex integra within the same family, Aquifoliaceae, it was over 10℃. The results indicate that there are significant differences in cold tolerance among different species in the same region, which are not affected by any environmental factors but affected by any genetical factors. Thus it is valuable to assess the cold tolerance on most broad-leaved evergreen trees in southern region, South Korea. As a result, Euonymus japonicus, Trachelospermum asiaticum, Dendropanax morbiferus, Ilex integra, Machilus thunbergii, Ilex x wandoensis, Cinnamomum japonicum, Distylium racemosum, and Castanopsis sieboldii may have better cold tolerance and survive the region closer to middle region, South Korea compared to the others.