Soils become compacted as a result of
traffic. Compaction is common in urban
areas and results from construction
equipment and foot traffic. Soil is more
likely to become compacted when the
soil is wet than when it is excessively dry.
Soil compaction is permanent, at least
when viewed in reference to a human life
span. Protecting the soil from becoming
compacted is much easier than dealing
with the negative impact of compaction
on plant growth and health.