One job showed me the value of a simple soil check

I used to think checking soil was for new arborists, so I often left it out on mature tree removals. Last spring, I was set to cut down a large oak in a client's yard. On a whim, I pushed my soil probe into the ground near the trunk. It sank in too easy, and I found the main roots were mostly rotten. If I had not done that, the tree could have tipped over in a dangerous way during the cut. Now, I always spend a few minutes probing the soil before any big removal, even if the tree looks solid. This practice has helped me avoid two potential accidents in the past year. Fellow tree workers, please make this a standard step; it might save you from a nasty fall or property damage.