Are You Specifying Soil Cells and Structural Soil as Equal Alternatives?
Urban trees don’t fail because of bad luck – most are set up to fail before they’re even planted. Traditional planting pits work against trees from the start: soil compaction, limited rooting volume, and conflicts with pavement and utilities all conspire to cut a tree’s life short. The root cause, quite literally, is running out of room. A successful canopy requires adequate soil volume below […]
Root Girdling and Why Context Matters
When the phrase root girdling appears in a specification meeting or planning discussion, it tends to stop the conversation cold. The challenge is that the term is often used loosely – sometimes to describe any visible change in root direction or diameter – when, biologically, true girdling is a very specific (and thankfully fairly uncommon) condition. What […]
Planting Is Easy. Keeping Trees Alive Is the Work.
One of the biggest challenges facing the urban greening industry today is how we respond effectively to the accelerating climate crisis. It’s also how we align as a sector to support an integrated approach, one that considers both mitigation and adaptation to reduce emissions, manage stormwater, address the urban heat island effect, and ultimately help […]
The Critical Role of Interlocking Soil Cells in Urban Tree Infrastructure
Designing urban landscapes that successfully support both healthy tree growth and the structural demands of pavements, pathways, and vehicular areas is a complex engineering challenge. Beneath the surface, the soil cell system plays an essential role in meeting these demands. Its ability to bear static loads, resist lateral forces, and preserve large volumes of uncompacted […]
Soil Placement Drives Long-Term Urban Tree Performance
Soil in urban environments rarely provides the conditions trees need to grow and thrive. Limited rooting space, compaction, and conflicts with surrounding infrastructure all work against long-term tree performance. That’s why designers and contractors use soil cells — not just to support pavements, but to create a stable, healthy soil environment beneath them. We’ve put […]
Urban Trees Are Not Just for Christmas
Each winter, towns and cities adopt a more festive character. Streets are illuminated, markets appear, and in many public squares a temporary Christmas tree becomes the focal point for seasonal gatherings. These installations bring warmth and atmosphere, but by early January they are dismantled and the space returns to a familiar hard, grey condition. This […]
How to Plant Street Trees Around Utilities Without Damage
Urban environments are complex, high-demand spaces where every inch of land serves a function. Yet even in densely built areas, greenery is not optional — it’s essential. Street trees do far more than beautify communities. They improve air quality, mitigate urban heat, support biodiversity, intercept rainfall, stabilize soil, and contribute to healthier, more resilient neighbourhoods. […]
Shaping Safe Streets in Canada with Urban Trees
Cities across Canada are evolving. New developments are increasingly expected to serve multiple functions, moving people efficiently, offering access to nature, and protecting communities from both crime and climate-related risks. As this shift continues, there is growing recognition that trees are essential infrastructure for building safer, healthier places to live and work. Urban trees provide […]
