Radial Trenching on the Northshore
If your trees aren’t growing like they should, the problem might be underground. Radial trenching breaks up compacted soil and opens up space for roots to go deeper. We help trees that are stuck in poor soil conditions actually thrive.
Request a free quote
We're fully trained & certified
Our team of arborists are experts in tree care and can ensure the health of your trees and shrubs.
ISA Arborist SO-11097A
Radial Trenching Overview
Radial trenching is basically digging trenches out from the tree trunk in a pattern so you can get down into the soil and change what’s there. Most of the time we go 10 to 12 inches deep or more. It works really well for trees stuck in bad soil—whether that’s soil that’s layered weirdly, too shallow, or just packed down and dead.
The other thing that makes this approach useful is you’re not tearing up the whole yard. You’re working in specific trenches, so if you’ve got plants or hardscape around the tree, it stays intact. You get the benefit of actually improving the soil without the mess of ripping everything out.
When you pull out the bad soil and replace it with something better, the roots will actually go deeper instead of just circling around the surface. That’s when you start seeing a real difference in how the tree performs.
Why Radial Trenching Matters
Bad soil is one of the biggest reasons established trees stop growing or start declining. They end up with shallow roots, they’re not getting nutrients, and they just slowly get worse. Radial trenching fixes the actual problem instead of just treating symptoms.
Deep Root Growth
When you put trenches in throughout the dripline and beyond with amended soil, roots will follow that. Instead of staying shallow and circling the trunk, they go down and spread out. A tree with a deep root system is a healthier tree.
Better Soil, Better Growing Conditions
The right amendments open things up; more air, better drainage, available nutrients. You're basically giving the roots something worth growing into instead of rock-hard compacted dirt.
Site Assessment
We check the soil composition, how compacted it is, how it drains, what the roots are up against. Then we figure out what amendments actually make sense for your situation.
Smart Trench Placement
Trenches get positioned in patterns that make sense for that specific tree. Throughout the dripline and out from there. The pattern matters because it encourages roots to establish deeper and farther out.
Some Trees Need Multiple Rounds
If the soil is really bad, we might recommend coming back and doing this again in a year or two. Sometimes fixing years of poor conditions takes time. We'll be straight with you about what you're looking at."
About Us & Our Expertise
ArborWorks has built its reputation on safe, professional tree removal and tree health treatments throughout the Northshore. Our ISA Certified Arborists bring years of hands-on experience to every job, whether you’re dealing with storm damage, diseased trees, or clearing space for new construction. We’re fully licensed and carry both general liability and workman’s compensation insurance, so you can have peace of mind from start to finish.
What sets us apart is how we approach each project. We don’t just show up and start cutting – we take time to assess your property, discuss your goals, and create a detailed removal plan that protects your landscaping and structures. From Covington to Mandeville to Madisonville, we’ve learned how to work with the local trees and weather conditions that define our area. When the job is done, we make sure your property looks clean and ready for whatever comes next.
Hi, I'm Ladson Poole
Owner | ISA Certified Arborist
After leaving a career in corporate sales, Ladson stumbled into arboriculture and quickly fell in love. This year is ArborWorks’ fourth year in business and we plan to continue to serve Mandeville, Covington and the surrounding area for years to come.
What our customers say
We bought our property 8 years ago and the biggest appeal was the beautiful live oaks. We wanted a certified arborist, not just a tree guy, and that’s how we found Ladson with ArborWorks. We really appreciated all the knowledge Ladson has about the trees. They’ve done several jobs and we definitely recommend them to everyone.
Rodriguez Residence
We are very happy with what ArborWorks did for us. We have live oaks that had been neglected for decades, so we did selective pruning instead of straight tree removal. Ladson gave us great tips on tree care and they also left zero footprint after removing hurricane-damaged pine trees. We would definitely recommend them to absolutely anybody.
Guinchard Residence
We had a tree fall down in our backyard after one of the storms. We were looking for a company that was certified and licensed and we found ArborWorks. From the start to the finish they were very professional and courteous. You could not tell that they had been in our backyard after they removed the tree – there were no ruts and everything looks wonderful.
James Residence