Use shrub, mulch or fence borders to keep foot traffic away from planted areas in landscapes. Back to the top The best time to test for compaction Use flotation tires to avoid compaction. Test your soil in early spring when moisture content is high and before going into the field with tillage equipment. Soil moisture can greatly affect soil compaction readings. High moisture content of soil may cause misleading low compaction levels.
Soil compaction occurs below the surface, so it's hard to spot.
The testing rod should move down through the soil with steady, even pressure. Hard, compacted soils resist penetration with the rod. Often penetration abruptly stops at a fairly uniform depth across a field or landscape area. For trees and shrubs, comparing root growth inside and outside the root ball is a quick way to tell if compaction is a problem. If you find evidence of compaction, dig to the depth indicated and check for abnormal root growth.