One job showed me the value of a simple soil check

I used to think checking soil was for new arborists, so I often left it out on mature tree removals. Last spring, I was set to cut down a large oak in a client's yard. On a whim, I pushed my soil probe into the ground near the trunk. It sank in too easy, and I found the main roots were mostly rotten. If I had not done that, the tree could have tipped over in a dangerous way during the cut. Now, I always spend a few minutes probing the soil before any big removal, even if the tree looks solid. This practice has helped me avoid two potential accidents in the past year. Fellow tree workers, please make this a standard step; it might save you from a nasty fall or property damage.

4 comments

4 Comments

charliestone5d ago

Seems like you got lucky once but that doesn't make it a rule. Most mature trees on residential property aren't sitting on rotten roots. Calling it a standard step for every job sounds like overkill to me.

daniel4744d ago

Ngl, I learned the hard way after a neighbor's oak smashed their garage. Now I always poke around the base before any big trim job. It's cheap insurance.

hart.christopher4d ago

Root issues often hide below ground where you can't see them. A quick probe takes minutes but avoids thousands in repair bills later. Calling it overkill ignores how cheap prevention is compared to fixing wrecked property.

wademorgan4d ago

Guess some pros think soil probes are beneath them until a tree tries to take them out. A few minutes to avoid becoming a pancake seems worth it, right?