The Urban Forest Ecosystems Lab (UFEL) develops solutions for cities that enhance ecosystem services from urban trees and soils. We focus on soil- root interactions in urban systems and work to understand how management and design affect soil and water quality, tree growth, and resilience. We translate our work to provide new management, assessment, and design tools for urban forest professionals and policymakers.

Our research program aims to:

• understand urban soil heterogeneity and its relation to management, design, and land use history
• relate management and land use history to soil carbon and stormwater mitigation potential
• develop below ground strategies for trees in urban centers and other highly urbanized locations where space is constrained
• optimize urban soil management for stormwater mitigation and tree health
• develop systems for protecting large trees during land development

Dr. Day is also involved with Susan Day Consulting.