Maybe you and your family are breathing a sigh of relief. Finally, the troublesome tree in your yard has been taken down. Your landscape can get back to being “normal,” right? Not so fast, according to the tree experts. The soil around your tree is now vulnerable to soil compaction. That means the dirt particles have all been squeezed together, causing severe density where water, air, and roots can’t move through the ground. Here are some professional tips to avoid the problem.

Heavy Machinery Plays a Role

Whether it’s a bucket truck, a crane, or an excavator, these are powerful machines that press the ground during tree removal. This process alone can severely disturb many years of natural, loose soil structure. However, most trees are taken down via heavy machinery, so it’s hard to avoid this necessary step.

Compacted Soil Kills a Landscape

After tree removal, you’re left with a tree stump or a hole following stump grinding. Either way, the soil is in a weakened state. Expert tree service technicians say the soil can begin sagging as the stump and tree roots decay over the years. If the area were stump-ground and leftover wood chips and dirt filled the hole, the soil would still start to compact because it’s choked off from nitrogen sources.

Soil compaction is a landscape killer because it can stunt plant growth and cause poor drainage where plant disease and root rot develop. It can also deter helpful bacteria and soil organisms, like earthworms, from accessing the soil due to compromised air pockets.

A Few Ways You Can Fix the Soil

Tree service pros recommend removing most of the wood chips if they’re covering the hole after tree removal. Instead, gently aerate the soil manually with a broad fork. This garden tool features a horizontal bar and long metal spikes to create channels for air and water to enter.

You could also use organic mulch to remedy soil compaction. Cover the area with two to three inches of organic mulch to slowly break down the soil structure, regulate moisture, and strengthen soil composition over time.

There’s also a tool used by professionals called an air-powered excavation spade. The machine relieves compaction around tree removal areas. This technique loosens soil and enables water and air to move more freely. Air excavation also makes it easier to blend amendments into the soil. Furthermore, this technique is excellent for softening the hard, dense ground and restoring porosity, so roots grow laterally without resistance.

Healthy soil is the foundation for every landscape. After tree removal, take the time to restore the soil, so you and your family can enjoy your outdoor space. If you live in Redmond, OR or a surrounding area and need tree removal services, make your first call to 4 Brothers Tree Service.