The Stockholm Method

Several years ago Montpelier, VT tree officials decided to try an innovative approach to planting trees in dense urban neighborhoods.

Developed in Stockholm, Sweden, the method involves digging out a generous pit, or tree well, along 500 square feet of sidewalk, then filling it with 3- to 5-inch-diameter stones that can support compression from above. Spaces between the stones are then filled with a mix of compost and biochar, a carbon-rich, charcoal-like substance, allowing space for roots to grow and find nutrients and air.

As reported in The Bridge, “Growing Trees in Stones,” by Jenny Blair, June 11, 2024