Arborist Consulting & Permits
Air Spading Services for Tree Roots and Soil in Victoria and Saanich
Air Spading uses an Air Spade, a pneumatic excavation tool that directs a stream of high-pressure, supersonic air to remove soil from around tree roots without cutting them. Oakstead Tree & Property Care performs Air Spading in Victoria and Saanich for root inspection, trenching through protected tree root zones, decompaction and soil amendment around mature trees, and surgical digging.
In plain words
An Air Spade blows soil away with a jet of very fast air. It clears soil from tree roots without cutting them. Oakstead does this work itself, for root checks, trenches and loosening soil.
What is Air Spading?
Air Spades are excavation tools designed to be as gentle with the earth as possible. Pressurized air digs through the earth and loosens up dirt and stone, while leaving tree roots and other plant matter undamaged. Regular metal tools will cut and slash these roots, leaving the trees and plants in danger of dying. When Oakstead performs Air Spading, we’re actively working to keep your trees and property lush and lively.
Air spades are faster and safer than using traditional excavation and digging techniques. Most situations don’t need air spades, as the space needed to be dug out is small enough for simple shovels. Air spades are more tailored to larger projects or densely rooted areas.
How Oakstead uses Air Spading
Air Spading is a service Oakstead performs directly rather than referring to partners. Our Certified Arborists use it to expose roots so their condition can be assessed without damage, to check roots where digging or construction is planned near protected trees, and to loosen compacted soil so amendments can reach the root zone. What we find feeds into tree health assessments, tree protection plans and written recommendations.
Technical Information about the Air Spade
This is a Pneumatic Excavation tool that removes soil from around tree roots with high pressure air. The tool produces a stream of Supersonic air moving at Mach 2 (twice the speed of sound). Its primary purpose is to excavate without damaging roots. But the Air Spade has several other handy uses:
- For digging trenches through the root zones of Protected trees. Used for installation of utility lines, etc., in construction or property development.
- Digging trenches through stony, or rocky ground. The tool isolates the stones so that they can be removed quickly. This saves a lot of difficult digging.
- Decompaction, aeration, and mixing in of soil amendments in the root zone of large mature trees.
- Decompaction of old roadways.
- Wherever “surgical” digging is required.
The Air Spade digs effectively while protecting the integrity of plant roots. While it may look like fun, we recommend asking a trained professional to use it, as it can be dangerous if mishandled.
When we excavate roots with the Air Spade, we can better analyze their health and provide advice and resources for the client. We want to protect the tree as much as possible and encourage it to thrive.
Air Spade Tool: frequently asked questions
What is Air Spading used for?
Air Spading's main purpose is excavating soil without damaging roots. Oakstead also uses it to trench through the root zones of protected trees for utility lines, dig through stony ground, decompact and amend soil around large mature trees, decompact old roadways and handle any surgical digging.
Do I need an Air Spade or will a shovel do?
Most small digging jobs don't need one, and a shovel works fine. Air spades are better suited to larger projects, densely rooted areas, and work near valuable or protected trees where cutting roots with metal tools could put the tree at risk.
Can an Air Spade help diagnose a struggling tree?
Yes. Oakstead uses the Air Spade to expose roots so their health can be properly analyzed without damaging them, then provides advice for the client. Because the tool can be dangerous if mishandled, it should be operated by a trained professional.
Does Oakstead perform Air Spading itself?
Yes. Air Spading is one of the services Oakstead performs directly. It is often paired with a tree health assessment or a tree protection plan, so the roots that are exposed can be assessed and the findings written up with recommendations.
Ready to talk to a Certified Arborist?
We respond to every request. Serving the Saanich Peninsula, Greater Victoria and the Cowichan Valley.