In the end, the core of all of our discussions about green infrastructure comes down to soil volume. Adequate soil volume is the seedling from which our particular variety of green infrastructure grows (literally and figuratively). It is what allows us to even consider the role that huge, mature trees and on-site stormwater management can… More
Cities provide uniquely challenging conditions for trees. Pollution, heavily compacted growing media, vandalism, and maintenance requirements all complicate the plight of the urban tree and compromise its ability to survive to maturity and make a meaningful contribution to its environment. Yet, cities need trees — desperately — to help reduce pollution, crime and speeding and… More
As someone who grew up in New York City but now lives in the city by the bay, the scarcity of movies that take place in San Francisco has always surprised me. I can’t explain it, though I’m sure someone can (anyone? anyone?). Of course, there are a few very, very famous films that take… More
So, usually we’re talking about big trees on this blog. Today our partner Sarah K. Faiks, a sustainable landscape architect with the Kestrel Design Group, flips us on our ear and discusses small trees instead — and what bonsai has to teach us about urban tree planting techniques. The art and practice of bonsai has… More
By Albert Key While there is much empirical information on wind throw, ultimately, we do not know the exact stresses which wind puts on mature trees, as the only way to academically test wind throw is with young trees. A study that I worked on with Dr. Tom Smiley of the Bartlett Tree Laboratory generated… More
The Silva Cell portion of the Project 180 (Oklahoma City) Streetscape – Phase 3 began a couple of weeks ago. Installation Coordinator Pat Greeley was on site to conduct a contractor training and oversee the initial phase.
One of the Silva Cell system’s most powerful selling points from a practical perspective is its modularity. The 2’ x 4’ x 1.5’ cell can be oriented to fit in almost any space, and our details provide guidance for all kinds of standard and non-standard site elements. As a result, the Silva Cell gets used on… More
At the end of last month, Mayor Gavin Newsom announced the launch of the Better Market Street Project. Market Street, one of San Francisco’s largest thoroughfares, is at once both a main artery of the city and one of its biggest messes. Congested traffic and mass transit, confusing pedestrian and bike crossings, pathetic (PATHETIC) street trees… More
By Rebecca Stevens I recently read a blog illustrating the Leidenfrost Effect (whereby liquids glide on cushions of vapor) by sticking one’s hand in liquid nitrogen. The pictures are amazing as is the video. You are probably wondering why we are talking about the Leidenfrost Effect on the DeepRoot blog.
Click here for a general overview of the factors that influence how deep tree roots grow. Or, continue reading below to dig in to the science a bit deeper. By James Urban, FASLA Here’s an objection we face a lot when working on Silva Cell projects: “Tree roots don’t grow more than 24″ (65 cm)… More
Earlier this year we wrote about San Francisco’s crowd-sourced tree census project (so neat). And there’s a lot that you can contribute to this project without knowing that much about trees… nonetheless, if you would like to be able to identify more trees more easily (I know I do) then you may want to start… More
Last we checked, the trees in suspended pavement at the Bartlett Tree Lab were doing awesome at 5.5 years. Growing season 6 photos are in and they still look great! (Structural Soil twig on the left, Suspended Pavement twig on the right).
Soil. Stormwater. Sustainable Infrastructure.
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