With an average of 43 in of rain a year, higher than the national average, the Pacific Northwest soil is known for its density. Though it’s beneficial for our many trails, soil compaction can be detrimental to our oxygen producing friends.

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Soil loses the ability to transport water and oxygen to the root system which causes an unhealthy imbalance. By limiting the air and water supply to vegetative roots, soil compaction reduces the available pore space and without adequate root hydration which is vital, as well as stress related to an absence of free oxygen, leads over time to a gradual decline in health. 

 

SYMPTOMS – SOIL COMPACTION

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• Meager leaf growth

• Branches and foliage dying from the tips or roots backward

• Reduction in size and number of leaves

• Poor response to adequate tree care

• Environmental stress and pest problem vulnerability

 

SOLUTION – VERTICAL MULCHING

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Vertical mulching is a technique used to assist in alleviating soil compaction. It reduces damage from excessive water by allowing necessary aeration during wet periods and sub-soil water penetration during dry periods. The technique also aids greatly in promoting the formation of fine feeder roots.

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Vertical mulching, a time tested method of overcoming the stress trees face in unnatural environments that we force trees to grow under, which creates cores of rich "top soil" down past the grass roots and into the soil area where roots can take advantage of them.

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ADVANTAGES OF VERTICAL MULCHING

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The process of vertical mulching can accomplish several simultaneous goals for the roots of a tree. 

• It helps to aerate soil right where roots are located. 

• It frees up more room in the soil for the two most critically important ingredients for the production of healthy roots: water and oxygen.

• It helps to inject additional organic material directly into the soil in and around the root system. These materials break down in the soil, providing sustenance for micro-organisms that are beneficial to the health of a tree, as well as creating greater root aeration which is important for the nutritional requirements of a tree.

• Promotes of water penetration to the subsoil during dry weather periods.

• Promotes of natural aeration during wet weather periods.

• Minimizes of root damage due to excess water.

• Formation of greater a number of feeder roots.

 

OVERALL PROCEDURE

 

Vertical mulching involves the drilling of holes at regular spacing in the soil throughout the area directly beneath the canopy, starting from the trunk and extending just beyond the drip line.

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DIMENSIONS OF HOLES

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Holes are drilled with a 3-inch wide auger bit to a depth of about 8 to 10-inches.

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PATTERN OF DRILLING

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Holes are drilled from 18” to 36” apart depending on the overall size of the canopy and dripline. The end result is a pattern of evenly spaced holes throughout the area underneath the canopy of the tree.

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FILLING HOLES

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Holes are filled with a variety of different mixtures, depending on the intended effect. For you DIY-ers, check out our proprietary mix here. Typically the drill is used to mix the product with the soil by drilling a shallow hole, scooping the right amount of dry product into the hole, and then finishing the drilling. The drill effectively mixes our product with the soil while drilling the hole.

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