Plant Health Care

Chesterfield Township, MI: Enhancing Tree Health with Air Spading and Root Care

Calvin Mass, ISA Certified Arborist | May 05, 2025

Tags: Plant Health Care

Supporting image for blog post: Chesterfield Township, MI: Enhancing Tree Health with Air Spading and Root Care

Using an AirSpade for [soil enhancement] or [to find girdling roots].

Chesterfield Township, located along the shores of Lake St. Clair in Macomb County, is home to a variety of mature trees that play a vital role in the community’s beauty and environmental health. However, to ensure these trees continue to flourish, residents and arborists must address common issues such as compacted soil and girdling roots.

Air Spading for Soil Compaction

Soil compaction, a frequent challenge in suburban areas like Chesterfield, occurs when soil becomes densely packed, restricting the flow of air, water, and nutrients to tree roots. Air spading uses high-pressure air to gently loosen compacted soil without harming the roots, improving root growth and enhancing soil permeability.

This technique is especially beneficial for trees near roads, sidewalks, and high-traffic areas, where compaction is often most severe. Oak, maple, and ash trees in Chesterfield Township, which are susceptible to these conditions, can greatly benefit from air spading. Reducing soil compaction allows roots to permeate the soil and absorb the water and nutrients they need to thrive.

Combatting Girdling Roots

Trees with roots that encircle their trunks—known as girdling roots—can suffer from nutrient deficiencies and poor growth. Through air spading, arborists can safely uncover and remove these roots, preventing further damage and restoring the tree’s natural growth patterns. Timely intervention can help trees such as maples, oaks, and elms to grow stronger, ensuring they remain an asset to the community for years to come.

Symptoms of girdling root are often seen as one part of a tree having sparse or stunted growth. In many cases this occurs at the top or only on one side of a tree. If you are noticing this condition on one of your landscape trees, call Owen Tree & Lawn Care today to have the tree inspected by one of our ISA Certified Arborists.

Girdling root on maple tree.
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