Accessible biotechnologyfor your environments.

About Functional Soils.

Obsession led us here. Years of projects and deep conversations about the power of microbes left us curious as to why no product available reflected what we realized was possible. We understood complex problems simply needed the right microbes for the occasion, and visualized a powerful tool for first-principle ecological restoration. We needed highly technical products to be simple solutions that fit in your hand. So, in 2025 we founded Functional Soils, crystallizing our decades of experience in biochemistry, ecological restoration, and soil health into a single solution.

A petri dish culture of beneficial fungi in the Functional Soils lab

Biotech, made accessible.

Every plant on the planet is programmed to live in symbiosis with microbes, but urban environments offer no guarantee that the right biological material is in the soil. So, why does a dandelion thrive in a crack in the asphalt against all odds? The answer is microbiology. It allows plants to survive and thrive in places they couldn’t on their own. It’s a wildly powerful tool.

We’re rethinking how the urban landscape can benefit from science-forward biology with user-friendly, truly accessible biotechnology. Not many are actively selling true endophytes in this space. Endophytes are specialized fungi that live inside and between plant cells, forming a seamless partnership with the host. We run rigorous biochemistry tests to fine-tune our formula, ensuring the plant actually wants to partner with the microbes we provide. This is the next step in true environmental restoration — we are committed to constant improvement, and we’re just getting started.

Trusted by people who manage the land

Proof from real sites.

Functional Soils has been an excellent resource in supporting our street tree program. While long-term performance monitoring is ongoing, their products are grounded in sound soil health principles, and our staff have been enthusiastic about incorporating them into our operations. Their team’s expertise, professionalism, and willingness to customize recommendations to our specific conditions have been particularly impressive. Based on our experience to date, we believe this work has significant potential to contribute to healthier, more resilient urban trees and soils in the future.

Kaz Lohrasb

City of Langley

The Functional Soils microbe products have made a meaningful impact on our landscaping business to say the least! We’ve noticed the difference especially through the summer heat - in lawns, trees, and gardens where we’ve applied FS microbial products - we’ve seen noticeably better resilience through hot, dry conditions. I often tell my customers that if I had to choose just one product to use on my own plants, hands down, it would be microbes! They’ve quickly become an essential part of how we prefer to care for landscapes. In addition to that, our experience with the FS team has been excellent - they are always generous with their time when I have questions, very prompt with fulfilling orders, and enjoyable to work with.

Victoria Jackson

Cultus Landscaping

Common questions

Microbe FAQs.

Here are some common questions from other professionals in the field, to better understand how Functional Soils (FS) microbes can fit into your current program.

What are FS microbes?

Not another fertilizer or biostimulant, FS microbes use fungal endophytes that are specifically chosen and uniquely formulated to benefit your trees, turf and general landscapes. Endophytes are scientifically proven to elevate nutrient uptake, improve stress tolerance and strengthen turf against disease. Our proprietary mix of multiple fungal endophytes derived from Western Canadian sources contains no known pathogens, and is composed exclusively of specific microbes that serve specific functions. Our formula includes microbiology that supports phosphate solubilization and bioavailability. Micronutrients, vitamins, and nitrogen sources promote fungal spore germination and establishment, while carbon and energy sources promote initial microbial establishment. FS microbes are safe for your fields, forests, staff and applicators.

Why use FS microbes?

Adding FS microbial products will benefit your plants right down to a cellular level. Our microbes create a mutualistic relationship with the host plant, strengthening the microbiome. FS microbes will enhance germination, increase root mass, improve nutrient utilization, and increase stress tolerance during transplant shock, drought and prolonged periods of heat. With simple deployment in water, or by hand, applying FS microbes fits easily into your current operational procedures for vegetation establishment, maintenance, recovery, or overall landscape improvement.

Can FS products be applied with other products such as fertilizer or pesticides?

Yes, FS microbes can be applied with a number of products. FS microbes are not only field compatible with most fertilizers and many pesticides, they can be tank-mixed in the same tanks you use for those products.

FS microbes are not compatible with fungicides, as fungicides will kill the beneficial group of fungal microbes in our mix. However, FS microbes can be deployed strategically around your fungicide applications to increase efficacy.

Functional Soils recommends — Applying FS microbes 5–7 days after fungicide applications is ideal to ensure its impact as you maintain your current fungicide program. Application of microbes after a fungicide application allows the microbes to form symbiosis with resident plants, and ensures the biome is filled with beneficial microbes. The microbes applied will challenge disease in the vegetation from taking hold, ensuring your plants have the tools they need to thrive. Continuing FS microbe applications will mitigate the use of fungicides and repopulate the biome with beneficials.

What is the best time to apply FS microbes?

The best time to apply FS microbes is when the soil temperature is above freezing. Cooler spring conditions are ideal, prior to vegetative growth accelerating as temperatures warm. The earlier microbes are applied, the greater likelihood of maintaining their population, which strengthens your plant over the whole year. Microbes can be applied in the shoulder season as they will survive regardless, but best functionality is in reasonably warm soil, holding temperature longer.

Functional Soils recommends — If insufficient water is applied with your current application, irrigation can be used to achieve a drench rate. FS microbes can be applied during rainfall as it will not wash through your soil or plants. Wetting agents are another sound method of application.

More than solely for established vegetative maintenance, FS microbes are a powerful tool where vegetation is highly damaged, seed won’t establish, or to enhance recovery.

Please contact us if you have any further questions. Get in touch.

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