I wanted to share a quick video about a soil treatment that not many people know about. One of the main issues with Urban Soils is that over time, they degrade and compact. This leads to less air, water, and nutrients being available to the trees.
Using this process we are able to:
-Undo soil compaction
-Improve Soil structure
-Improve water holding capacity
-Improve Soil nutrition
-Improve Soil Organic Matter content
-Improve root growth
-Prevent Phytophthora root rot
I consider this treatment to be the Ultimate method to invigorate the health of older, larger trees, especially Live Oaks. If you have a bigger tree, you simply increase the treatment radius. When a developer or home builder in Austin damages a tree in the construction process, the City usually makes them do this treatment to help the tree recover.
While many arborists recommend short term health treatments that are repeated annually like fertilizers, this treatment will provide benefits to the tree for over a decade.
I hope you enjoy the video!
by austintreeamigos
7 Comments
Amazing! Central Texas is lucky to have y’all taking care of our trees.
A question: are air spades available to be rented at tool rental places around town? I haven’t been able to find anything with a quick search. If not, is there a more manual method, like just roughing up with a pickax or something?
How do you handle issues such as pooling water when the root flare is at or below grade?
Awesome, I have never seen this before. Thanks for doing what you do!
Some trees, thinking specifically about my Post Oaks, don’t like disturbances of the soil. I wonder if doing this maybe great for some trees but not others?
How does this affect the live oaks that have suckers around the base?
What about relatively newer trees? Should the area around the trunk be cleared of grass? We planted a 12’ live oak in our backyard 2 years ago, and I’ve just let the grass slowly take over the mulch area around the base.
Oak tree roots are pretty shallow closer to the base, won’t this destroy roots?