I’m leaving this post up for a few extra days, as I got reports of an error when attempting to view Jim’s paper using the link at the end of the post. It should be fixed now!
We get asked to compare Silva Cells to CU Soil with some frequency. It’s a comparison that we always hesitate to make, because to us it’s really a case of apples and oranges. While they may seem to be solutions to the same challenges, there are some very significant differences that affect their value and performance for tree growth in urban environments.
Now James Urban, FASLA, ISA, has written a paper addressing the comparison directly.
From soil volume to comparative research and rainwater applications to tree response to loam soil, the article is a great overview of how the two products differ. I won’t attempt to summarize it here, because Jim has already said it best. To download the paper, please click here.
Image: Structural Soil twig on the left, Suspended Pavement (Silva Cell) twig on the right, from the Bartlett Tree Lab Independent Study. Courtesy of James Urban.