Honestly think air spading beats soil excavation for root work

I spent 3 hours last week digging out roots around a dying oak in Austin with a shovel and it was brutal. Tried an air spade on another tree yesterday and got the same job done in 45 minutes with way less damage to the fine roots. Has anyone else made the switch and noticed better recovery rates on stressed trees?

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pat_coleman1mo ago

And here I was feeling like a real tough guy swinging a shovel around for hours. Now I just look like a caveman with a tool that was outdated before my grandpa was born. Guess I'll be making a call to my equipment rental place tomorrow and saving my back for the beer fridge at home.

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the_patricia1mo ago

Hundred bucks an hour for a mini excavator rental around here and I used to think that was highway robbery. After spending last weekend digging post holes with a clam shell digger, I'm starting to wonder if I've been the sucker this whole time.

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