The air spade is a tool that enables the soil surrounding trees to be removed without damaging roots.
Compressed air is directed onto the soil which is blown away from the root surface. This method avoids inadvertent damage from spades or other hand tools and allows the tree root structure or decayed areas to be inspected or for underground services or foundations to be installed without the need for severing roots.
This method is also used where poor quality or contaminated soil is to be replaced with better quality material to encourage healthy tree growth.
