HAZEL PARK — Last year, green company Exlterra unveiled the HAZL drill rig, named after Hazel Park, the city the company calls home.

Light and flexible, the rig can maneuver tight spaces without wear and tear on the earth, allowing it to install underground systems just about anywhere. And now the company has unveiled a new technology that HAZL can help install — one that will help newly planted trees grow.

The Nutrient Enrichment Passive System, or NEPS, consists of a series of polyethylene extrusions that are installed underground around a tree. Exlterra says the tech works in any type of soil or climate, including at high elevations.

NEPS taps into nutrients that are located deep in the soil, beyond the reach of tree roots, nourishing the tree. This promotes the growth, vitality and yield of trees in a sustainable way, increasing survival rates on newly planted trees. Exlterra says this also results in denser canopies, improved air quality and, for fruit growers, an increase in better-tasting and nutrient-rich fruit.