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
It is hard to tell just by looking at a tree-lined street, but soil and its microbes — in combination with trees — can form a powerful system for improving stormwater quality. Some pollutants are filtered or retained by soil, while others are taken up or transformed by plants and microorganisms. The U.S. EPA’s 2023… 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
Susan Day and her team at Virginia Tech published a paper earlier this year about a soil rehabilitation technique called Soil Profile Rebuilding, or SPR. They were looking for a way to rehabilitate soils damaged by land development in a way that would restore their biological function and be more supportive of plant growth. I… 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
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 Silva Cells grow healthy trees and manage stormwater in built environments all over the world — but there’s something especially meaningful about Silva Cell projects on school and university campuses. These spaces are more than just places to pass through — they often feel like a second home for students, faculty, and staff, who… More
Introduction Silva Cells were the first commercial soil cell product on the market, but did you know the idea of suspended pavement systems date back many years to urban European streetscapes? From Paris and London to Boston and Redwood City, let’s take a brief tour through the use and evolution of suspended pavement systems throughout… More
At DeepRoot, we’re very comfortable in the cold – in fact, Minneapolis is the home base for our technical and marketing teams (with even more hardworking DeepRooters spread across the Canadian landscape). This is equally true of our Silva Cells, which have been supporting urban forests and treating stormwater in some of the world’s coldest… More
Introduction The economic vibrancy of many downtown cores, particularly in small- to medium-sized towns, has been waning in recent decades, losing retail and residential ground to adjacent suburbs. The reasons why are complex — but there’s no denying that at least part of the problem is the space itself: downtown districts often feature outdated and… More
Soil. Stormwater. Sustainable Infrastructure.
Request a Quote [email protected]
Tel: 415 781 9700
Toll Free: 800 458 7668
Toll Free: 800 277 7668
Fax: 415 781 0191
