Dig A Hole!

Not going underground - the root of the problem

Trees haven’t read the guidance about where they should grow roots. The science tells us that roots are typically shallow and can spread radially much further than tree height. But root growth is opportunistic, developing in response to specific site factors and ground conditions.

Two similar aged beech trees with root growth adapted to site ground conditions.

The same tree will root differently depending on its particular environment. And forget about applying rules-of-thumb to urban trees. Few arboriculturists fully consider the below-ground landscape when assessing trees in relation to development. Favouring a much more simplistic baseline - based on minimum soil volume requirements. How soil ‘volume’ can be evaluated by measuring a tree stem and plotting a radial ‘area’ defies logic.

Dig a Hole!

I try and dig a hole or two whenever I’m surveying - I’ve never been disappointed, or felt less informed about the soil and ground conditions.