Introduction Underground stormwater storage systems don’t always play nicely with trees. They’re typically designed as siloed subsurface systems — isolated from surrounding soil and root zones to reduce risk and simplify performance. Trees, on the other hand, require space, soil volume, and access to water to grow and thrive. The result is a disconnect. Stormwater… More
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
Introduction Municipal street reconstruction is often triggered by aging underground infrastructure: water mains, sewer lines, utilities, sidewalks, curbs, or drainage systems that have reached the end of their service life. But once a street is opened up, the project becomes more than a repair. It becomes a planning opportunity. Instead of simply replacing old infrastructure… 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
Can you estimate a tree’s diameter at breast height (DBH) based on its caliper measurement? The short answer is no. Caliper and DBH both measure trunk diameter, but they measure it at different heights and are used for different purposes. There is no reliable formula for converting one to the other, but the chart below… More
One of the most common questions posed when beginning an urban forest project is: how wide do tree roots grow? The answer is almost always: wider than you think. Tree roots frequently extend well beyond the edge of the canopy, which means the visible dripline is only a starting point — not the boundary of… 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
A common assumption in urban tree design is that tree roots do not grow more than 24” below the surface. There’s a reason this idea has stuck around: in many city environments, roots are indeed concentrated close to the surface. Urban soils are often compacted, poorly drained, oxygen-limited, interrupted by utilities, or constrained by pavement… More
Download our research overview document here. Today, the idea that urban trees need real soil volume to reach maturity is no longer controversial — it’s widely accepted among urban foresters and landscape architects. We also recognize that providing that soil volume, especially with systems like Silva Cells, represents a meaningful upfront investment. But decades of… More
Introduction Cities around the world are setting ambitious urban canopy targets, an essential step toward climate resilience and healthier public space. Yet many municipalities struggle to turn those targets into reality. As identified in a recent cross-city urban forest study, the disconnect is rarely a lack of vision — it’s a breakdown in implementation. One… More
Healthy trees can grow in even the most challenging urban environments, provided they receive enough water, soil, sunlight, and appropriate care. Vigorous urban trees help keep people healthier, cool cities during the summer, reduce energy use, support wildlife, raise property values, and make communities more welcoming. Yet heat and drought in many parts of North… More
Soil. Stormwater. Sustainable Infrastructure.
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