tree roots, and construction or foot traffic can reduce the oxygen and microbial life trees depend on.
At Harrison McPhee, we believe healthy trees start with healthy soil. One way we support that living system is by brewing our own compost tea— a biologically active liquid amendment designed to support the soil food web.
The Hidden Half of Tree Care
Brewing Better Soil, One Living Cup at a Time
When most people think about tree care, they look up. They notice branches, leaves, flowers, shade, and the shape of the canopy against the sky. Arborists look up too— but we also spend a lot of time thinking about what is happening below our feet.
The hidden half of a tree’ s life is underground. Roots, soil, fungi, microbes, moisture, oxygen, and organic matter all work together to support the tree we see above ground. When that underground world is healthy, trees are better able to grow, recover from stress, and tolerate the challenges of living in a built landscape.
In a forest, this happens naturally. Leaves fall, wood decomposes, microorganisms break down organic matter, and nutrients slowly return to the soil. In yards and urban landscapes, that cycle is often interrupted. Leaves are removed, soils become compacted, lawns compete with
Think of it a little like gut health. Just as human health is connected to the tiny organisms living in our digestive system, soil has its own living community. Beneficial bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and other microscopic life help cycle nutrients, improve soil structure, and support root function. A tree’ s“ whole body health” begins in that unseen world.
Compost tea is not a magic potion, and it is not a substitute for proper planting, watering, pruning, or root protection. But as part of a broader plant health care program, it can help bring biology and organic activity back into soils that have become depleted or disrupted.
We like the image of“ serving tea” to trees because it reminds us that care does not always have to be dramatic. Sometimes it looks like feeding the soil, protecting roots, adding organic matter, and giving a stressed landscape the conditions it needs to recover.
A tree’ s canopy may catch our eye, but its strength begins below ground. By caring for the hidden half, we give trees a better chance to live longer, grow stronger, and keep making the places we live feel more alive.
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