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Soil Care Services We Offer

• Deep Root Fertilization
• Soil Decompaction
• Vertical Mulching
• Radial Trenching
• Soil Sampling

Deep Root Fertilization

Deep root tree fertilization is what we call the process of fertilizing trees and shrubs via a liquid fertilizer soil application. Our custom fertilizer, “Arborplex,” is designed for the needs of our local soils, to improve all around soil health in the overburdened landscape.

Arborplex provides three services to the soil by adding:
1. Organic material like black sea kelp, yucca extract, and black worm castings to improve soil texture and increase nutrient absorption.
2. Beneficial bacteria which naturally fix nitrogen and make other nutrients available while mycorrhizal fungi aid with plant nutrient and water uptake.
3. Commonly lacking essential macro-nutrients and micro-nutrients for trees living out of the natural nutrient cycle.

Soil Decompaction

Tree roots have a hard time developing in compacted soil. Loose soil with open pores allows trees to access the oxygen they need and holds water like a sponge. We use a high-powered air tool called an Air Spade to break up compacted soil. This allows us to “till” the soil in a way that is not damaging to structural roots. We then add organic composted material to the soil, which provides nutrients and aids in maintaining proper soil structure. This service is ideal for trees in areas that have been heavily disturbed by construction, vehicles, or heavy foot traffic. 

Vertical Mulching

Vertical mulching is done to decompact and augment soil of a tree’s root zone. Vertical mulching can be particularly helpful when treating declining and construction-impacted trees.  This application is especially useful in areas with poor drainage or compacted soils. Vertical mulching involves air-blasting holes in the soil in the root zone of the tree, then filling the holes with amendments and organic matter. It’s used for alleviating soil compaction and adding nutrients to the root zone of the tree. Vertical mulching can increase fibrous root growth and increase air and water penetration into the soil.  Trees rely on the soil in which they were planted to provide most of the nutrients required over the course of their entire life. This procedure creates channels for moisture to penetrate the soil. 

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Radial Trenching

Radial trenching is used for alleviating soil compaction and adding nutrients to the root zone of trees. It involves air-blasting spoke-like sections of the root zone of the tree, then filling the holes with amendments and organic matter. It is shown to encourage deep root growth far reaching from the trunk and between structural root leaders. This application is especially useful in areas with poor drainage or compacted soils.

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Soil Sampling

They say, “You’re only as strong as your weakest link.” This applies to soil nutrients too. If there’s just one essential nutrient unavailable in the soil your trees and shrubs will not look their best. If pH, or acidity level, of the soil is not in an ideal range, certain nutrients are not available to plants. By analyzing soil samples, Heartwood Arborists are able to design special ammendment programs tailored to the needs of your site.