Airating Base of plants

[Volvo]

How many onboard chip around the base of your plants to airate the root system?? , My Father used to do so and explained no matter the size the plants it does better if you chip around its base let the roots airate as well as take up whatever it is you feed the plants with..
Been a habit of mine far back as i can remember ..

[rxkeith]

what do you mean by chip?


like poking a pitch fork into the soil around the base?


don't think i have ever done it.








keith

[slugworth]

Me thinks there would be a danger of damaging roots.

[Volvo]

Small hand three pronged fork. Scrape around the outer base of plant whilst lifting some of the soil in a mound around the stem.
Always have done so allow roots to air.
I have alway noticed a difference between plants that i do so with those that dont.
Dont dig deep enough to cut roots.

[zipcode]

My parents did the same. It was really (like visibly) useful in the poor clay soil we had, which became a hard crust after heavy rains and sun.

[slugworth]

Never heard of it before.

[Father'sDaughter]

My father does it around ornamental trees and bushes, but never around his vegetable plants. I always thought he did it more for appearance and to eliminate any growing weeds as he does not believe in using mulch. I could see it being helpful with heavier soils.

[rxkeith]

soil heaped around stem will stimulate additional root growth from the covered stem.
more root growth would certainly benefit the plant, and produce more fruit.
this i have done in the past.






keith

[Volvo]

Apart from airating the rootbase it might also allow for easier feeding when applying liquid or other plant food ??..
But its a habit ive gotten into for most of my plants that allow it and have noticed a Differrence to keep doing so..
Guess we all have out own little quirks when it comes to our plant growing ..