Russell Tree Experts provides vertical mulching services to improve the health of your tree suffering from soil compaction or nutrient deficiency. Vertical mulching is a soil amendment process in which an air tilling tool is used to create dozens of 6-to-18-inch deep holes in a pattern around a tree’s root zone. This pattern will vary from tree to tree. The holes are then backfilled with compost, manure or other specific soil amendments. The final product is an improved soil system that promotes tree growth, increased vigor, and a healthier, local soil food web. Using an air tilling tool is a non-invasive way of removing soil that will minimize the impact to a tree’s root system. This leaves a tree’s fibrous roots intact and unharmed. Backfilling the holes with a porous material like compost will de-compact the soil and increase soil aeration. This will primarily improve soil structure, thus enhancing water infiltration and gas exchange for the root system and allow more nutrients to become available for the tree to uptake. Additionally, due to the compost being deposited 6-to-18 inches deep into the ground, this will make more nutrients available specifically for the tree and minimize the chance of turf grass leaching the nutrients.