Air Spading
Sometimes in life you have to scratch the surface to reveal an underlying problem. The same theory holds true with tree health as well. Proper air spading is sometimes the key to the utmost health of your trees.
At Personal Touch Tree Service, our ISA (International Society of Arboriculture: www.isa-arbor.com) certified arborists use a tool called an Air Spade to reveal signs of tree health just below the surface. The Air Spade shoots air at very high pressures and high volume to uncover the ground surface, revealing the root flare, which gives us many indicators of how healthy, or not, a tree is without damaging the roots of the tree and also removes the dirt from the tree trunk which can compromise the integrity of the trees in that area.
Exposing the root flare (the area just below the surface where the tree’s roots begin to fan out), or air spading, can tell us if the surrounding soil is compacted or if new soil has been brought in around the tree, which might have a negative effect. We can determine if the roots are decaying, which can lead to tree decline or structural problems. Conditions for root decay include drought, over watering, back filling and soil compaction over an extended period of time. Exposing the tree’s root flare can help heal the tree and restore its health and the most effective and least invasive way to expose the root flare is by air spading.
At Personal Touch Tree Service, we use the Air Spade for many reasons other than to examine the health of the root flare. Air spading also very helpful for trenching for irrigation. Air spading is also used to aerate the soil around a tree and to amend the soil with mulch and other soil builders.
Family owned and operated for over 20 years, Personal Touch Tree Service has the right tools and breadth and depth of knowledge to provide the best solution for your trees. Call us today at 214-328-7213 to set up a consultation with a certified arborist!
