Our "Urban Forest Soil Genomics Workshop" uses very specific examples from urban environments to demonstrate what soil genomics look like after impacts from stressors such as compacted soils, overwatering, and deicing salts. Using NEW SOIL GENOMICS RESULTS from samples collected in urban and natural environments, this workshop builds awareness of the importance of healthy soils and how to improve tree growth amid multiple Urban Forest "stressors". * Due to the frequency and proliferation of water restrictions, we include a bonus talk on how to optimize tree hydration during drought and severe water restrictions. Three main learning areas of this workshop are: 1. Built Environment = Stresses for Trees: What happens when the soil is overwatered? Why do most trees not have deep roots? Why are compacted soils bad? Why is volcano mulching bad for your trees...while foot-deep leaf litter in natural forests is good? Wire baskets: remove or retain? Why do trees like the space between the concrete sidewalks and compacted soils? The one factor common to all of these questions: Soil Oxygen. All these problems are too common in urban areas because of depleted soil oxygen, which becomes the primary factor which limits the health of tree roots. Knowing this is in fact the case, then how should we specify soil oxygen? 2. What is "Soil Genomics" and How Can it Reveal the Secrets of Urban Forestry: Don't Guess it, Test it! This session provides an introduction and overview of soil genomics testing. We will provide detailed examples of soil genomics test results from typical urban environments, and a healthy forest framework will be used to explain why it is so difficult to grow trees in “Urban Forests.” 3. Healthy Soils Support Healthy Trees - The Amazing Soils Genomics: Urban forests face various stressors, including soil degradation, pollution, invasive pests, and extreme climate changes. Additionally -- through compaction and removal of organic matter -- most soils in developed sites are destroyed by the development process. Soil Genomics is a fascinating new field that explores how microbes in the soil affect the health and growth of plants and trees. It is like a DNA test...but for soil...providing a better understanding of the composition and function of soil microbial communities and their response to environmental stressors. This knowledge can be used to develop more effective strategies for managing soil health specifically within urban forests, such as promoting the growth of beneficial microorganisms and improving soil structure and nutrient availability. This presentation shares cutting-edge knowledge and technologies which can help community forestry supporters improve how trees can be grown for the long term in order to ensure the ideal environmental payoff from mature tree canopies. Bonus talk (1 LACES PDH and 1 ISA CEU pre-approved): How to keep trees hydrated during drought and water restrictions? Water restrictions and shortages affect the long-term viability of urban trees, which take decades to reach maturity and provide benefits to our environments. How much water do trees really need to survive and thrive? Would you be surprised to learn that the amount may be significantly less than many water prescriptions? We will look at case studies of water usage during droughts and water restrictions. The main goal is to provide methods to keep trees alive and thrive during water restrictions and shortages.