Airspade

[jmcscrap]

How, or what do you do when you are dealing with thick grass around the base of the tree? I've tried blasting it away with the spade, which didn't work. Tried to scrape it off using a shovel, still had the roots to deal with. Aside from a small hand shovel to excavate the sod, what can I do?????

 

[PPA]

Kill the grass a week before you do the excavation. Or dig it out if there are not too many surface tree roots. Or water it heavy and pull the grass and the grass roots.

 

[southsoundtree]

Sheet mulch over it to smother it without damaging the tree roots. Newspaper or cardboard plus mulch on top. No digging, no disposal.

 

[Babberney]

We typically blow it till there's little left but the runners, then pull them out by hand. It isn't a satisfying solution, but it's the best I've come up with. Air spading is rarely a turn-on-the-machine-and-go operation. You blow awhile, get in with hand tools awhile (to pull out loose rocks, cut out problem roots, and, yes, pull out grass or other plants that are in the way), then repeat.

This is a great technique and vital to our industry, as most trees that have been planted in the past few decades are going to have root problems resulting from poor nursery practices and incorrect planting (not to mention fill on construction sites). But it's lousy work that is best handed off to the groundie, if possible. That's my position on it, anyway.

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[John_Paul_Sanborn]

Cut the sod out

 

[jmcscrap]

Using a sod cutter would sure be nice, but what about all the root damage to the tree? If you set it deep enough to get the grass roots you would most likely hit tree roots as well?
I like the idea of spraying a week before as long as you have the time, it would also have the benefits of the grass roots contracting and loosening the soil.
Thanks for the ideas!!

 

[John_Paul_Sanborn]

You just have to look for the First Order Roots and avoid them. If you cut a few fine roots it is no big deal, you will often damage them with dessication while working with and air tool anyways.

If you are going to spray the grass, use a strong fert vs. glyphosate. A high N mix with some sulfur will burn the grass and then be used by the tree.

 

[Toparboring]

AHHH maybe a weedeater scalp the grass down and then spray or use about 3 inches of mulch to smother out the grass.

 

[John_Paul_Sanborn]

You want to spray first so there is more uptake of whatever product you use.

Burying it will just make more work for you when you have to move the stuff to run the airtool.

If I have time to schedule on a revolving account, I have piled the fall leaves up and let them sit into the next summer.

The nice thing about the sod-knife is that you can tarp the sod up and replace it when you are done; or you can use it in other parts of the yard and add a little extra to the bill.