Air digging trench or loosening soil
AirSpade
or Supersonic Air Knife pushes air at a very high rate of speed through a hollow
tub (see right photo). One of the advantages of using these type of tools near
and under trees is that the high speed air moves soil without damaging roots
(see photo below). This allows for installation of irrigation lines and
other utilities under the canopy of a tree without damaging roots. The tools
can also be used to diagnose root system problems including deep planting
and circling or kinked roots and they can locate roots for tree preservation.
These tools can be used to loosen compacted soil that is not able to support root growth. After soil is loosened, mix organic matter in with the loosened soil using a the Airspade or Supersonic Air Knife. This loose mixture is very conducive to root growth.