The following info on soil specifications was provided by Jim Urban. Imported soil specifications have evolved over the last 30 years to become quite specific about products. Frequently, they appear to be iron-clad descriptions of the most optimum soil; many specification writers would like us to think that even minor deviations from these documents… More
The following Q&A on freezing grounds and bioretention was consolidated from three informational blogs by Peter MacDonagh, FASLA. Bioretention is widely used to slow, filter, and infiltrate stormwater. But what happens in winter? Does frozen soil prevent infiltration? Do dormant trees and plants stop the water-quality treatment process? Research from Minnesota, New Hampshire, Connecticut,… More
The following Q&A on compost was answered by Sally Brown (University of Washington) and was reprinted from the “Soil Matters” blog. Question: What is “compost,” exactly? I’ve heard the term my entire life, but I’ve never really understood what it means. Answer: Most gardeners and farmers know compost to be a rich, organic soil amendment,… More
The following info on conserving urban soil was provided by Ellyn Shea (arborist and consultant in San Francisco). It’s not unusual to find a piece of art or jewelry over 500 years old in a museum’s collection. These precious artifacts are (rightly) treated with great care commensurate with their value. Yet an inch of… More
In the July 2019 issue of ISA Arboriculture & Urban Forestry magazine, Hossain, Stuhlinger, Olson, and Babst contributed, “A Comparison of Indirect Water Devices for Benefiting Newly Transplanted Urban Trees.” Urban trees often undergo a period of post-transplant stress which is exacerbated by a water-limited environment. Watering devices are available to help a newly planted… More
Curtis Hinman is a senior scientist with Herrera Environmental Consultants in Seattle, WA. Before joining Herrera, Curtis was faculty with Washington State University (WSU) Extension and the Department of Biological Systems Engineering, and was the University’s Green Stormwater Infrastructure Specialist. With WSU he co-designed and was lead scientist for the WSU Low Impact Development (LID)… More
The pre-installation meeting is one of the most important — and free! — services offered by DeepRoot. They provide an opportunity for a DeepRoot representative to meet with installing contractors prior to the start of their Silva Cell installations to help ensure that they’re comfortable with the installation process. What are the details of these… More
Do you need to have prior Silva Cell experience to install the system? No! Our Standard Specifications call for Silva Cells to be installed by a “qualified installer whose work has resulted in successful installation of planting soils and planter drainage systems, underground piping, chambers, and vault structures.” In other words, contractors can meet these… More
Tim O’Hare Associates LLP is a leading independent environmental consultancy based in the United Kingdom specializing in soil science and landscape engineering, including soil science, topsoil, habitat creation, sales pitch agronomy, and more. I talked to Tim O’Hare himself to learn more about its reuse, recovery, and what it really means to manufacture soil. … More
Very simply, a mil is one-thousandth of an inch: 1 mil = 0.001 inch. It is not the same as a millimeter; 1 mil = 0.0254 millimeter. Mil is commonly used to describe the thickness of materials such as plastic sheeting, geomembranes and barriers. Understanding this measurement makes it easier to read product specifications and… More
There is no universal list of trees that should — or should not — be planted in cities. A species that performs well in one region, streetscape, or soil type may be poorly suited to another. DeepRoot does not select tree species for individual projects, and the examples in this article should not be treated… More
The following Q&A on soil erosion was answered by Nick Comerford (University of Florida) and was reprinted from the “Soil Matters” blog. Q: What does it mean to say we are losing soil? Where does it go? A: You may hear the phrase: “We are losing our soil.” Sounds serious…but how do we lose… More
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