Healthy Soils Support Healthy Trees: The Amazing World of Soil Genomics - 1.25 PDH (LA CES/HSW)

Recorded On: 09/16/2026

Healthy mature trees enhance human health and quality of life. However, the development process destroys the soil microbiome that is needed by healthy trees. Soil genomics is a powerful tool for landscape architects to better understand the soil microbiome they are designing plants in and to restore healthy soils.

Learning objectives:

Explain the benefits of healthy trees and the importance of nurturing them to maturity, beginning with healthy soil.
Describe how the building process destroys the soil microbiome needed by the trees and what is missing in current practices.
Explain the basics of soil genomics and the factors in an urban environment that affect the soil microbiome, with examples comparing built and natural environments.
Employ technologies that promote and boost the soil microbiome and its underground community, including microbials, insects, organic matter, water, and air.

Peter Caldwell, ASLA, PLA

Associate Professor of Practice

Texas A&M University

Peter Caldwell is a Professor of the Practice in the Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning Department of the College of Architecture at Texas A&M University. He has an educational background in Ecological Sciences and Engineering. His professional work focuses on barrier free solutions through an ecological design lens. His projects in Houston center on creating connections for communities by designing flexible systems that have a positive impact and are usable by all. His recent work has focused on creating methods for the inclusion of data in the design process to reduce inequities and biases created through typical approaches.

Gordon Mann

Arboriculture and Community Forestry Coordinator

The Institute of Soil Genomics for Healthy Community Forestry

Gordon Mann is the Arboriculture & Community Forestry Coordinator at The Institute of Soil Genomics for Healthy Community Forests. With 46+ years of experience as an arborist and community forester, he is continuing to give back with enthusiasm and passion. He currently serves as UCFS representative on the ANSI A300 Committee. He served on the boards of CUFAC, TREE Fund, ISA, SMA (SUFC) & is past president of WCISA, CAA, & ASCA . He served as the Greenprint Director at the Sacramento Tree Foundation supporting the UF programs of 22 cities & 6 counties.

Wei Zhang

Education Coordinator

The Soil Project (formerly the Institute of Soil Genomics for Healthy Community Forestry)

Wei Zhang is the VP of R&D at Zynnovation LLC(TreeDiaper) and the Education Coordinator of The Institute of Soil Genomics for Healthy Community Forests. He holds a Ph.D. degree in Engineering from Virginia Tech. He has been doing R&D for the green industry for 18 years in areas include mitigation of stresses of landscape plants (drought, overwatering, salt, heat island, soil compaction etc), relationship of soil/water/air, and soil genomics of urban environments. He has 40+ peer-reviewed scientific journal articles, one monograph and 250+ conference presentations. He frequently speak on Arboriculture, Landscape Architecture, Urban Forestry, Stormwater Green Infrastructure, and related conferences.