Horticulture

Arcosa Lightweight’s expanded shale and clay aggregates offer innovative, cost-effective solutions for a range of horticultural applications, from soil amendments to stormwater management systems.

As a trusted resource for landscape architects, engineers, and gardeners, Arcosa’s lightweight aggregates enhance soil health, improve water and oxygen balance, and support sustainable practices in urban and natural landscapes. Lightweight aggregates are ideal for projects of all sizes, providing a reliable, long-lasting planting media that’s easy to work with and environmentally friendly.

Key Benefits

Arcosa Lightweight aggregates improve soil aeration, retain moisture, and provide long-lasting, non-degradable support for plant growth, making them ideal for sustainable landscapes, effective stormwater management, and healthier horticultural environments.

Improved Soil Health and Plant Growth

Arcosa Lightweight aggregates enhance soil structure by promoting aeration, reducing compaction, and optimizing water retention. These properties help create an ideal growing environment for plant roots, fostering robust plant health and longevity.

Effective Stormwater Management and Runoff Control

With their high water absorption capacity, Arcosa aggregates are valuable for urban landscapes and stormwater systems, increasing soil infiltration and reducing runoff. This functionality allows aggregates to filter pollutants and support healthier green spaces in urban areas, roadways, and sensitive environmental zones. 3

Environmental Sustainability

Arcosa aggregates are ceramic-based and chemically inert, providing a non-degradable soil amendment that supports sustainable landscapes. Their lightweight, easy-to-handle structure makes them suitable for large projects and long-term installations in green roofs, bioretention systems, and raised planters.

Featured Case Studies

Solving Issues of Urban Development: Waterloo Park

After more than a decade of planning and four years of construction, Waterloo Park opened to the public on August 14, 2021. As the largest urban park in Austin, the 11-acre space is the first phase in a 1.5-mile chain of green spaces and public amenities tied to a major stormwater improvement plan between 15th Street and Lady Bird Lake.

Lightweight Aggregate Protects Historic Live Oaks in New Orleans

The scenic beauty of New Orleans is enhanced by some its oldest living residents: ancient live oaks which grace the city’s neighborhoods. Arcosa Lightweight is being used to ensure these iconic trees stay healthy for future generations.

Greenspace Atop a Freeway: Klyde Warren Park Demanded Expertise

Several years after its grand opening, Klyde Warren Park continues to be one of Dallas’s most celebrated public spaces—both for its beauty and for the engineering expertise that made it possible.

Optimized Soil Aeration and Root Health

The porous structure of Arcosa aggregates prevents soil compaction, providing excellent aeration and promoting root growth, essential for plant health in gardens, parks, and green roofs.

Enhanced Water Retention and Infiltration

Arcosa aggregates absorb water and release it gradually, reducing watering frequency and supporting effective stormwater infiltration in bioretention systems, rain gardens, and bioswales.

Non-Degradable and Chemically Inert

As a long-lasting, inert material, Arcosa aggregates do not break down or leach chemicals, making them an environmentally safe choice for sustainable landscaping.

Why Choose Arcosa Lightweight for Horticulture?

Proven in Diverse Applications: Arcosa Lightweight aggregates are trusted for use in urban green infrastructure, public parks, and commercial landscapes, delivering reliable performance and environmental benefits.
Enhanced Soil Health and Reduced Maintenance: With improved aeration, moisture control, and structure, Arcosa aggregates support optimal plant health, reduce watering needs, and minimize ongoing maintenance.
Sustainable, Long-Term Solution: Arcosa’s aggregates provide a durable, eco-friendly amendment that supports sustainable horticultural practices across various landscape applications.

Ask our Expert: 1-800-342-LITE

Paul Altznauer, with 28 years of experience in the green industry and a degree in horticulture, brings a blend of practical expertise and academic knowledge to his work. Passionate about plants and environmental sustainability, he excels in areas such as landscape design, plant cultivation, and eco-friendly gardening practices.

Horticulture