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"The ROOT of the problem"

Trees in the Valley live in compacted soils which negatively affect their heath and stunt their growth. Without the proper flow of nutrients and water moving through the root system, trees become stressed. In turn, that stress opens trees up to insect and disease problems that they would otherwise be able to fight off. When the nutrient deficiency is great enough, that can be enough to damage a tree on its own. Compaction can be the result of a construction project or simply everyday vehicle or foot traffic over the roots. Even flood irrigation (common in the Valley) can compact soil. Also, some soil types (like clay-heavy soils found in the valley) are more prone to compaction than others.

VERTICAL
MULCHING
The process of Vertical Mulching actually creates vertical pockets in the soil to help roots find their way
to better conditions - looser soil. Using a drill or air spade,holes are drilled into the existing soil at a depth of approximately 12-15 inches within the dripline of a tree Top Soil with amendments is shoveled into the drill holes. Vertical Mulchingis one of the best things you can do for the health and longevity of your trees. Upon completion, the newly drilled holes filled with good rich soil amendment creates a place for the roots to go for much needed oxygen, water, nutrients, etc.
Compacted soil is a main issue with our urban forest, and vertical mulching is a cost effective, simple process that helps our root systems greatly. We recycle the chips from our jobs to later reincorporate into our mulching program.

ROOT COLLAR EXCAVATION
Girdling roots can kill a tree. They grow around the main stem of the tree, restricting  the movement of water, plant nutrients and stored food reserves. A Root Collar Excavation is the process of removing excess soil from the top of root flares and around the trunks of trees. During this process, Arborvision technicians use Air Spade technology to blow excess soil from around the root collar and then evaluate the structure of the root system to determine what corrective measures are needed to enhance root development or repair damage to the tree trunk itself.  Once diagnosed, these problems are manually
corrected to create the right environment for the tree to flourish. This process is also used for remove soil from trees that have been planted too deeply or to dig trenches for construction projects that lie within the dripline of a tree without damaging the root system.