Found a good way to handle a tricky root flare on a big maple

I had a big old sugar maple in a tight backyard in Ann Arbor. The owner wanted to keep it but the root flare was buried under about 8 inches of soil and old mulch. I was worried about hitting big roots with an air spade. Instead, I used a pressure washer on a low, wide fan setting to gently wash the soil away. It took about two hours but I exposed the whole flare without damaging a single root. The client was happy and the tree looks much better. Has anyone else tried this method on mature trees?

2 comments

2 Comments

shane_ross1mo ago

That pressure washer trick is pretty clever for avoiding root damage. A local arborist told me he uses the same method on sensitive old oaks. Seems like a solid alternative to digging around blindly.

uma_reed261mo ago

Well there's a mental picture. Two hours with a pressure washer and not a single curse word? I'm impressed. @shane_ross, your arborist friend must have the patience of a saint, because my pressure washer is strictly for blasting mud off the driveway.