Air excavation and root health
Using compressed air to expose and treat roots without damaging them.
What it is
An air spade blasts soil away with high-pressure air, leaving roots intact. Arborists use it to uncover a buried root flare (trees planted too deep, or with soil and mulch piled against the trunk), find and cut girdling roots, loosen compacted soil, and check roots before construction.
It's a specialized service; many companies don't have the equipment. It's often combined with adding compost and mulch.
Signs you might need it
- The trunk goes straight into the ground like a pole, with no visible flare at the base
- A tree is declining and the soil around it is hard and compacted
- Roots are circling the trunk at the surface
- You're planning construction near an important tree
Good to know
It's a way to diagnose and treat root problems, not a way to remove a tree. Your arborist may recommend it in an arborist report or tree protection plan.
Typical cost in Ontario
No Ontario company publishes a price. US companies charge about $500–$1,200 (US dollars) for a single root-collar excavation. At Ontario arborist rates of $75–$150 an hour plus equipment, a one-tree job is likely in the several-hundred-dollar range. Get a quote.
What pushes the price up or down
- Scope: uncovering one root collar versus loosening the whole root zone
- Tree size, and how deep soil or mulch is piled against the trunk
- Whether girdling roots need to be cut
- Soil amendments added afterward
- Access for the air compressor
Ways to spend less
- Treat several trees in one visit so equipment setup is shared
- Ask whether a simple root-collar check with hand tools is enough first
Based on US pricing and Ontario hourly rates. Prices are typical ranges gathered from published Ontario price guides and company price pages in September 2026, before 13% HST. They’re a guide, not a quote: your price depends on your tree and your property. Get two or three written quotes, and check whether your city charges a permit fee.
Find a company for this work
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Related specializations
Sources for the prices on this page
- Air Spade Services in Nassau County: Cost and Problems They Actually Solve – Jones Plant Health Care (US prices, in US dollars)
- How Much Does Hiring An Arborist Cost in 2026? – Tree Doctors Inc. (Toronto/GTA, ON)
- Air Spade Services In Ottawa – Eastern Ontario Arborists (Ottawa, ON)
- AirSpade Tree Excavation – Kifiak Tree Service (Mississauga/GTA, ON)