Health
When we evaluate tree health it is important to take a holistic approach. This means we’re identifying and treating the cause rather than the symptoms. People often forget that the majority of a tree exists within the soil itself.
Air Spading
Trees in urban areas often suffer from poor planting practices, such as leaving trees in their transport cages or burlap wrappings, to girdling roots that can kill. We use compressed air through an air knife to safely excavate soil and expose the roots. This allows us to prune girdling roots and uncover the root flare, which is essential for healthy growth. Proper exposure reduces the risk of wood rot and promotes tree vitality.
Soils
Forests naturally sustain themselves through complex relationships between trees and fungi, with mycorrhizal associations being crucial for nutrient exchange. In contrast, urban soils often lack fungal communities, nutrients, and organic layers due to development practices. To address these issues, we start with a soil test to assess pH and nutrient levels. If trees aren't suited to heavy clay soils, we may consider transplanting them or amending the soil through mulching and trenching to enhance its structure and nutrient availability, focusing on improving the soil rather than relying on fertilizers.
When it comes to urban soils the key is prioritizing the improvement of the soil rather than supplementing nutrients through fertilizers. Depending on the circumstances we can employ several different practices, such as:
1) Compost Tea: we make our own. Compost tea is an excellent way to fertilize your trees and plants while introducing good bacteria into the soil.
2) Top Dressing: for trees in the typical urban/suburban lawn a great method for improving soil composition and nutrient load. We use our self-propelled spreader to spread a thin layer of compost over the lawn. This can be done once or twice a year. The most immediate effect is that the compost is a natural slow-release fertilizer providing nutrients for both your trees and lawn all growing season. The downstream effect is that the application of compost over time will improve the soil structure, transforming compacted urban soils into looser organically rich soil.
3) Radial trenching: an excellent tool to employ particularly when a mature tree starts to go into decline.
4) Mulch bed installation: most people have mulch beds that are far too small. Expanding the mulch bed out to the tree’s drip line is a huge benefit to an urban tree's health and longevity.