By: Shelby McCullough| Published: March 1, 2021
When you’re young, trees seem like permanent fixtures, living on and on. When you get older though you realize trees aren’t immortal and die just like any other living thing. You especially become aware of this when you own your own home with a tree on the property. A dying tree could pose a danger to your new home, so it is important to care for the trees around your home. One of the ways to take care of a tree on your lawn is by soil aeration.
Soil Aeration: What is it?
Over time the soil around your tree becomes compact and dense. The compaction is usually the result of foot traffic and the accumulation of thatch—a layer of dead plant matter that suffocates the soil underneath. What importance does oxygen have under the soil? What are the benefits of soil aeration?
Benefits of Soil Aeration
Lack of oxygen can suffocate tree roots, weakening the tree and opening it to further injury. Helpful microbes require oxygen and provide tree roots with nutrients. Soil aeration introduces oxygen back into the soil, allowing the roots and microbes underneath to breathe and keeping your tree healthy.
Healthy trees are especially important for trees near your home. Weakened and sick trees become unstable, and unstable tree near your home is a dangerous situation. Proper aeration is key to keeping your tree healthy and your home and family safe. How do you know when to aerate your soil?
Recognizing When it’s Time to Aerate!
There are a few tell-tale signs that the soil around your tree has become compacted:
- Pooling Water: Well, aerated soil and healthy tree roots absorb water quickly. If water pools around your tree after rainfall, then it is a sign that the soil has become compact.
- Bare Soil: Patches of bare soil indicate seedlings are unable to take root. Compact soil is hard for seedlings to penetrate and will result in unlivable patches on your lawn.
- Use Soil Penetrometer: You can use a soil penetrometer to assess the compaction of your soil. Attached with a pressure gauge, you can accurately determine if you have compact soil, along with how deep the compacted soil is.
Now that you have determined you have compact soil, it’s time to aerate the soil. There are two tools that you can use to aerate your soil.
Spike and Plug Aerator
Soil aeration can be performed with two prominent tools:
- Spike Aerator: A spike aerator penetrates the ground with sharp spikes. The punctures allow oxygen to come into the soil and is an excellent short-term solution to soil decompaction.
- Plug Aerator: A plug aerator uses hollow spikes to both penetrate and hollow out the soil. The soil removal provides a long-term solution to compaction since large and creating more open pockets.
Manual and mechanical versions of these tools are available, and both can help you with soil aeration.
McCullough Tree Service Certified Arborists
McCullough Tree Service has certified arborists on staff who are experts in their field. Our certified arborists and can help determine soil compaction! McCullough Tree Service is an exceptional tree service that serves Orlando and the greater Orlando area. Staffed with dedicated experts with years of experience in the tree service industry, McCullough Tree Service will provide satisfaction with any job.
McCullough Tree Service offers tree removal service. We are a reliable tree company in Central Florida. We specialize in all phases of tree services such as:
- Tree Trimming
- Tree Removal
- Tree Demossing
- Storm Damage Tree Removal
Contact us today so we can help you reshape your property.
Now Serving Apopka, FL
We’re thrilled to announce that McCullough Tree Service is now offering its expert tree care and maintenance services in the Apopka, area. Apopka, residents can benefit from our wide range of services, including professional tree trimming, tree removal, stump grinding, and comprehensive storm cleanup. Our team of certified arborists is dedicated to maintaining the health and beauty of your trees, ensuring your landscape remains safe and attractive. Trust us to bring top-notch tree care solutions to your doorstep. For more information or to schedule a consultation, call us today at (407) 734-5854.
