The Morton Arboretum is focused on improving the health and longevity of urban trees. Healthy, undisturbed soil is a key component to achieve future tree canopy goals. Unfortunately, soils with ideal characteristics at supporting long-lived trees are becoming increasingly rare in the built environment. As we continue to emphasize the ecosystem services our urban trees provide, understanding below-ground conditions should be a key component to this discussion. Healthy soils offer greater stormwater storage during rain events and can provide sufficient reservoirs of water to get trees through prolonged periods of drought. Improvements to urban soils in the built environment will lead to healthy trees. Healthy, diverse forests are also better at combating pest and disease outbreaks as they have greater resources to overcome a potential infestation if they are not stressed. To achieve our canopy goals and make the Chicagoland forest structure exceptional, we need you, the Green Industry, to help us improve our urban forest canopy through improved urban soils.

Landscape Architects: Please click HERE to complete the Learning Assessment for this course.
Certified Arborists: Please click HERE to complete the Learning Assessment for this course.