Plant Health Care
Proactive Care for Healthier Trees
Healthy trees begin with healthy roots. Our Plant Health Care services focus on preventing problems before they occur and promoting long-term tree health through proper nutrition, soil management, and professional monitoring.
Trees growing in urban and suburban landscapes often face challenges such as soil compaction, nutrient deficiencies, drought stress, and limited rooting space. By identifying and addressing these issues early, we can help improve tree vigor, resilience, and longevity.
Deep Root Fertilization
Deep root fertilization delivers nutrients directly into the root zone where they can be most effectively absorbed. This treatment not only supplies essential nutrients but also helps improve soil aeration and root development.
Benefits of deep root fertilization include:
- Improved tree vigor and growth
- Enhanced root development
- Increased resistance to drought and environmental stress
- Healthier foliage and appearance
- Improved nutrient availability in the root zone
Soil Analysis & Preventative Care
Many tree health problems begin below the surface. Soil analysis and professional evaluations allow our ISA Certified Arborists to identify nutrient deficiencies, soil conditions, and other factors that may be affecting tree health. Using this information, we can develop customized recommendations to support the long-term health of your trees and shrubs.
Restoring Healthy Root Environments
Air Spading
Soil compaction, poor drainage, construction activity, and buried root systems can limit a tree's ability to absorb the water, oxygen, and nutrients it needs to thrive. Air spading is a specialized, non-destructive process that uses compressed air to safely loosen and remove soil around tree roots without causing damage. This process can be used to expose root flares, diagnose root problems, identify girdling roots, and improve soil conditions around stressed trees.
Air spading is often recommended for trees experiencing decline, poor growth, construction impacts, or symptoms that cannot be explained by above-ground inspection alone.
Radial Trenching
Radial trenching is a specialized root care treatment performed using an air spade to relieve soil compaction and improve growing conditions for trees. Narrow trenches are created in a spoke-like pattern extending outward from the trunk and filled with nutrient-rich organic material. This process allows air, water, and nutrients to reach the root zone more effectively while encouraging healthy root growth and improving soil structure. Radial trenching is an excellent option for trees experiencing stress from construction, heavy foot traffic, or compacted soils.
Vertical Mulching
Vertical mulching is another root care technique performed using an air spade to improve soil aeration and drainage. A series of deep, evenly spaced holes are created throughout the root zone and filled with organic material to reduce soil compaction, increase oxygen availability, and promote healthy root development. Unlike radial trenching, which creates targeted channels for root expansion, vertical mulching provides broader soil improvement across the entire root zone. It is especially beneficial for trees growing in dense clay soils or areas with poor drainage. Because it requires less excavation and material, vertical mulching is typically faster and more cost-effective than radial trenching, which requires more time, labor, and organic soil amendments to complete.
