Arborist Consulting & Permits
Soil Management and Root Zone Decompaction in Saanich and Victoria
Soil management for trees means improving compacted or depleted soil so roots get the air, water and nutrients they need. Oakstead Tree & Property Care assesses tree root zones in Saanich, Victoria and the Saanich Peninsula and can use an Air Spade to loosen compacted soil without damaging roots. Follow-up soil work such as adding compost and mulch is referred to vetted local partners.
In plain words
Tree roots need air, water and food from the soil. Packed-down soil can starve them. Oakstead can loosen the soil with an Air Spade without hurting roots. Vetted local partners add compost and mulch afterwards.
Why soil matters for trees
Soil helps to keep trees upright and stores the water and nutrients that trees need. Soil is like a living organism that provides the living environment for millions of soil organisms, live and dead, that assist with nutrification, aeration, and hydration of the soil. Healthy soil for growing should be 50% air space and 50% solids. The air spaces are partially filled with water. For a large number of reasons, urban soils can be less than ideal physically, biologically, or chemically. For example, soil compaction or toxification can be significant problems for tree health.
We’d love to help you out if you think you may have this kind of a problem. It can be tough or impossible to bring tree health back if it is in decline, but dealing with a growing problem in advance can prolong the life and health of your tree by making it as strong as it can be physically, biologically, and chemically.
Decompaction with the Air Spade
For decompaction (loosening packed soil) of tree root areas we have had great success with our Air Spade. The Air Spade is an excavation and decompaction tool that is used for digging around tree roots because it does not damage them. This tool uses ultra-high pressure (180CFM) to shoot a concentrated stream of air into the ground. Depending on the soil, it will inject air 12 inches deep in one pass. To decompact a tree root zone, we simply work the Air Spade over the tree root zone, fluffing up all the compacted soil. Easy schmeezy! We normally recommend adding compost over the area at this stage, mixing again with the Air Spade, and finishing with a rake and a layer of mulch.
If you’d like an arborist to look at your trees or site in the Saanich and Victoria area, please give us a call at (250) 888-9222 or use the request form on our Get a Quote page and we’ll get right back to you.
Soil Management: frequently asked questions
How do I know if soil compaction is hurting my tree?
Urban soils are often compacted by foot traffic, vehicles or construction, which squeezes out the air roots need. Thinning canopies, slow growth and water pooling on the surface can be signs. Dealing with compaction early can prolong your tree's life, so have an arborist take a look.
What is an Air Spade and is it safe for tree roots?
An Air Spade is an excavation and decompaction tool that shoots a concentrated stream of compressed air into the ground. Depending on the soil, it can inject air about 12 inches deep in one pass, loosening compacted soil without damaging tree roots.
What happens after soil decompaction around a tree?
Oakstead normally recommends spreading compost over the loosened root zone, mixing it in again with the Air Spade, then finishing with a rake and a layer of mulch. This improves soil structure and helps the tree become as strong as it can be.
Can soil care save a tree that is already declining?
It can be tough or impossible to bring back a tree in advanced decline. Soil care works best when a growing problem is dealt with early, strengthening the tree physically, biologically and chemically before damage becomes severe. An assessment helps show what is realistic.
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We respond to every request. Serving the Saanich Peninsula, Greater Victoria and the Cowichan Valley.