Blog | Tree Care Services

Providing shade, privacy, and a buffer from strong winds, trees do a lot for our properties. However, they need constant care to remain healthy and beautiful.

When it comes to tree care, most tree owners are familiar with fertilizing and pruning. While these steps are crucial to your tree’s health, soil aeration is also important.

Read on to learn how to aerate soil around trees, why doing so is vital, and how consulting tree service experts in Falls Church, VA, can help.

The Benefits of Soil Aeration

Fertilizers add essential nutrients to the soil. However, if you fail to aerate the soil, most of the nutrients you add will go to waste. Here are a few reasons why learning how to aerate soil around trees is vital.

Improves Nutrient Levels

Compacted soil can make it difficult for organic matter to thrive and for tree roots to get the nutrients they need. Aeration helps you resolve soil compaction by creating air pockets. In turn, these air pockets allow the roots to get easy access to nutrients, improving root growth.

Increases Pore Area

Naturally, the ground consists of at least 50% pore space. However, this is not the case in urban spaces. Buildings and foot traffic lower this space down to about 10%.

Aerating the soil fixes this and gives your tree roots more room to breathe.

Improves Water Supply

Did you know your trees can find it hard to access water even in normal weather conditions?

If the soil is hard, it prevents water from penetrating down to your roots. However, breaking up the soil creates a path that allows the water to pass easily.

Protects Your Trees Against Pests and Diseases

A healthy tree is less vulnerable to the damaging effects pests and diseases cause. Since aeration helps provide your tree with unlimited access to water, nutrients, and oxygen, it allows the tree to grow healthier. In turn, this enhances the tree’s resistance against pests and diseases.

How to Aerate Soil Around Trees

When aerating the soil around your trees, there are two ways to go about it. You could either use a spike or plug aerator.

The spike aerator method involves creating holes in the soil using a pitchfork, spiked roller, or tines. On the other hand, plug aerations require a machine to remove “plugs” of soil.

Since plug aeration allows you to create holes that are as big as ¾ of an inch, most professionals consider it to be the most effective method.

How Often Should I Aerate the Soil?

Besides learning how to aerate the soil, it is also vital to learn how often to do it. Generally, our experts recommend aerating the soil at least twice a year. This helps you facilitate your tree’s optimal health.

Also, we recommend doing so during spring and fall. Aerating the soil in spring will help you capitalize on early spring growth. It also gives grass and any affected roots enough time to heal. Aerating in fall allows you to loosen the soil before winter sets in.

Your Trusted Tree Service Experts

Learning how to aerate soil around trees has its benefits. However, it might be better to consult trained professionals because the procedure can damage your tree roots if done incorrectly.

Are you searching for arborists with the expertise needed to care for your trees? Whether you need to protect young trees or care for mature ones, we’ve got you covered.

Speak with us today and enjoy tree service from experts who care. Call G&V Tree Service, Inc. today at 703-337-3080 to schedule our tree care services.