Jim Urban, FASLA, is an expert on urban trees and soils — as well as being intimately involved in the development and design of the Silva Cell system. Author of the industry bible on urban forestry, Up By the Roots, Urban has also proven to be a fountain of wisdom for various inquiries about trees,… More
A recent research study conducted by Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories tackled the question of the best methodology to grow trees in cities, with the ultimate goal of reaping benefits that mitigate the impact of climate change. The study (Comparison of Tree Responses to Different Soil Treatments Under Concrete Pavement) was produced by Dr. E Thomas… More
Introduction Helping cities grow trees is what we do at DeepRoot — but it’s important not to think about tree count as the sole metric in achieving urban canopy goals. Thriving tree canopies are built one tree at a time, one project at a time, through individual decisions that determine whether a tree merely gets… More
Introduction Not long ago — as recently as 10–15 years ago — trees were often the first thing to go when design conflicts appeared. If roots might interfere with utilities, sidewalks, or foundations, the simplest solution was to remove the tree from the plan. Infrastructure came first; trees were treated as optional. DeepRoot’s vice president… More
Introduction: Supporting Tree Success with the Strongback With Silva Cells, the strongback — our temporary installation lid used during soil placement — is not an afterthought or a mere convenience: It’s an intentional design element that plays a critical role in how soil enters the system, gets compacted, and ultimately performs for trees. This Silva… More
Soil structure is one of the greatest influences on pore space in soil, and how easily air, water, and roots can move through a soil. Many people are aware of what soil texture – proportions of sand, silt and clay – they are dealing with on a site; however, few people consider a soil’s structure,… More
Introduction People often ask us how Silva Cell grows large trees and treats stormwater. The truth is: it doesn’t. At least not by itself. Silva Cell isn’t some magical, mechanical device that generates roots or filters water on its own. Instead, it’s a simple yet powerful framework that lets nature perform at its best, even… More
Introduction Soil is the foundation for healthy urban trees. It provides essential space for roots to expand, creating conditions for a mature, wide-canopy tree — but only if it’s actually there in the quantity and quality the tree needs. That’s why soil volume is one of the most important metrics for determining a city tree’s… More
Introduction Why are streetlights and sidewalks considered municipal assets — but not trees? Most cities manage detailed inventories of their physical infrastructure: light poles, sewer lines, benches, trash bins, snowplows. These things are logged, valued, maintained — and budgeted for. They’re viewed not just as integral components of the public realm, but as long-term investments… More
Introduction For decades, the assumption has been simple: screened soil is better soil. It’s cleaner, more uniform, easier to manage — and is often seen as the gold standard. The golf industry, for example, has wholeheartedly embraced the properties of EPA-approved screen soils. But here’s the problem: in the pursuit of consistency, we’re sifting away… More
As Jim Urban says, “Designing sites is not about looking great the day, month, or year they are completed. It is about creating landscapes that can function and thrive for many years and decades to come.” The foundation of successful urban green space design is prioritizing both the soil and the trees – and optimizing… More
There are many factors that contribute to the failure of urban trees, and many are related to soil issues, such as lack of viable soil, soil volume, and compaction. For my entire career, Landscape Architects have been working with Soil Scientists, Engineers, and Arborists to design urban tree planting techniques to meet specific horticultural, structural,… More
Soil. Stormwater. Sustainable Infrastructure.
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