Deep Root Spoon-feeding and Aeration
Root/soil restoration and promotion for…
  • Transplant Establishment and Promotion
  • Urban Soil Decline
  • Root Loss Due to Excessive Drought
  • Counstruction Damage
National Tree Preservation is able to accomplish root/soil restoration through the use of “deep root spoon-feeding and aeration.” Deep root spoon-feeding and aeration will help stimulate the root system by increasing the amount of oxygen and water getting to the roots and by providing important compounds back into the urban soil. Soil compaction is a major problem in urban landscapes. The removal of leaves and grass clippings on an annual basis depletes the soil of important compounds and contributes to soil compaction. These compounds are added back annually in the forest and maintain a rich soil. The addition of foot traffic, landscape equipment, and normal use of an area also increases the amount of soil compaction. In a row crop situation, farmers cultivate their fields annually with sub-soilers and disks.

This practice is implemented to breakup and to loosen the soil for increased plant vigor. National Tree Preservation essentially cultivates the soil with the use of air. Air injected into the ground at 200 psi moves and breaks up the soil. You can literally see the ground lift and roll during this process. This subterranean explosion (shock wave) fractures the feeder root system which in-turn stimulates more root growth. Liquid “Forest Floor Extract” is then injected into the fractured areas with another shot of air. The liquid solution provides root stimulation and conditions the soil. What is left is a soil that is on its way to better health due to an increased ability to accept water and oxygen.

What separates us from the competition?
  • National Tree Preservation owns the patent for the unique process that we employ. This service is only provided through our national network of local service providers.
  • National Tree Preservation also has a proprietary “Forest Floor Extract” mix based on 15 years of research and development.
  • Deep root spoon-feeding and aeration is not an invasive process. Other methods, such as the air spade and vertical & radial mulching, damage the landscape in the process and require extra labor to correct before job completion. Extra labor means increased cost for the client without increased results.
  • Deep root spoon-feeding and aeration does not damage major brace roots. There is a high risk of damage that can occur to the large brace roots when using vertical & radial mulching. Augers, trenchers, and backhoes, which are used in vertical & radial mulching, can cause major damage. After damage occurs, rot will begin in the root and make its way up the tree leading to a structurally weak tree.
  • National Tree Preservation does not have to use heavy doses of nitrogen to promote vigor. Nitrogen inhibits root growth while promoting foliage growth. Too much nitrogen provided to an old tree can lead to death. National Tree Preservation’s focus is on correcting the soil. We promote root growth and allow the roots to cause increases in foliage and shoot density. Companies who provide liquid feeding have to rely on nitrogen to fertilize the tree. Liquid feeding by itself treats the symptom by giving a temporary greening and increase in density but does not correct the soil problems.
  • Deep root spoon-feeding and aeration does not cause a “sealing off” effect in the soil. We provide true aeration by fracturing the soil with air. Companies who provide liquid feeding have to rely on large amounts of liquid under high pressure to “aerate” the soil. The liquid under pressure seals off the clay and causes decreases in root penetration as well as oxygen and air diffusion within the soil.
The service that we provide is a fast, efficient process. The high efficiency factor of our process translates into a cost savings for the client. The results are typically very noticeable within the first six months. We have had severe cases where it took three years to put new growth on the tree. The more severe cases are normally due to heavy construction damage as well as the client’s impression that there was no hope in saving the tree. We gain much satisfaction in seeing the excitement that comes from our clientele. The old tree is passed onto future generations and people are very open to preserving that legacy.

Trunk Injection for Disease Management
National Tree Preservation also offers a process called Trunk Injection. In some cases, we encounter situations where a stressed tree is targeted by a pathogen (fungus, insect, etc.). The pathogen must be controlled to help the tree recover. Trunk Injection is a way to get pesticides inside the tree to kill these pathogens. This process is an environmentally friendly management strategy because the solution is not sprayed into the air where it is susceptible to wind drift. The pesticide is taken up by the tree, through the bark. Our trunk injection program is based upon the program and products provided by TREE TECH, a leader in the tree injection and tree health care industry.

Capsules are available that contain fertilizer. Some tree services will use this method as a way to fertilize the tree. We do not recommend this. The process is invasive to the tree because holes are drilled into the bark to insert the solution capsules. This process should be used sparingly as a last resort.

Some of the available pesticides can be taken up by the root system. Whenever possible we will use deep root spoon-feeding and aeration to inject these pesticides into the ground for root uptake. This is the ideal situation.