Aerating the Soil around Your Trees Boosts Tree Health and Growth
Water is an obvious plant requirement, but so is oxygen. A tree uses oxygen below ground and above to boost its health and growth. The tree’s vascular systems can’t properly function without soil oxygen, and its roots can‘t absorb water. Plus, there are microbes and organisms underground that can help enhance a tree’s survival but need oxygen to do it. That’s where aeration helps.
Aerating around your trees helps them “breathe” fresh air. It boosts tree health and growth dramatically. Here are some additional benefits of aerating your soil:
- Improves oxygen flow
- Enhances water flow
- Increases nutrient absorption
- Strengthens root growth
- Increases tree health
Spike aeration is the easiest way for home gardeners to aerate soil themselves. Grab a spiky tool, like a hand cultivator, metal rake, or pitchfork, and puncture the soil in a broad area around your tree. This effort makes the soil more porous so that oxygen can access the roots and water can drain more readily through the soil. Be careful not to stab surface roots with your tool!
Aerate around your trees once or twice a year, in the Spring and/or fall, and always follow up with mulch (You can find a great video on the website how to properly mulch). For mature trees starting to show their age, it’s best to aerate the soil, mulch a large area around the base, and then walk over the roots as little as possible. Mature trees tend to be even more vulnerable to soil compaction.
Lastly – be aware that a healthy-looking tree does not indicate your soil is fine! The negative impacts of soil compaction might not become visible in the canopy for several growing seasons. So be proactive and build aeration into your annual tree care routine.
Want more tips about keeping your trees healthy or planning to install new woody plants? Check out RI Tree Council’s other articles on tree care page or sign up for the next Tree Stewards course. Go to RITree.org for more information.