Raised soil around poplar tree.

[Bob F]

My neighbor, who rents, recently raised the ground level around two
poplar trees near my side of the lot. I have always understood that
doing this will cause the bark to rot, thereby eventually killing the
tree. I talked to the landlord, who said "his sources" say it is no
problem. I am worried because the prevailing winter storm winds would
tend to drop the tree on my house if it falls. The ground level now is
about 1 foot higher on one tree and 2 feet higher on the other than
the origional level. Am I worrying needlessly?

Bob

[FragileWarrior]

"Bob F" > wrote in
:

> My neighbor, who rents, recently raised the ground level around two
> poplar trees near my side of the lot. I have always understood that
> doing this will cause the bark to rot, thereby eventually killing the
> tree. I talked to the landlord, who said "his sources" say it is no
> problem. I am worried because the prevailing winter storm winds would
> tend to drop the tree on my house if it falls. The ground level now is
> about 1 foot higher on one tree and 2 feet higher on the other than
> the origional level. Am I worrying needlessly?
>
> Bob
>
>
>

No, you're worrying correctly.

[FragileWarrior]

FragileWarrior > wrote in news:f3mrvn
:

> "Bob F" > wrote in
> :
>
>> My neighbor, who rents, recently raised the ground level around two
>> poplar trees near my side of the lot. I have always understood that
>> doing this will cause the bark to rot, thereby eventually killing the
>> tree. I talked to the landlord, who said "his sources" say it is no
>> problem. I am worried because the prevailing winter storm winds would
>> tend to drop the tree on my house if it falls. The ground level now is
>> about 1 foot higher on one tree and 2 feet higher on the other than
>> the origional level. Am I worrying needlessly?
>>
>> Bob
>>
>>
>>
>
> No, you're worrying correctly.
>


Sorry, I should have expanded that answer.

Check out:
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/nwest/msg071016207308.html

and:
http://www.lsuagcenter.com/en/environment/forestry/urban_forestry/Protect
ing+Shade+Trees+Around+Your+New+Home.htm

which contains this bit:
"Grade Changes
Trees depend on the feeder roots in the upper 6 to 12 inches of soil for
air, water and minerals. Most feeder roots are in an area under the tree
crown in open-grown trees. If you extend perpendicular lines from the
widest portions of the tree crown to the ground and connect these points,
you’ll enclose an area that includes most of the root system.

Because most of the roots are in the upper 6 to 12 inches of soil,
lowering the grade and consequently removing those roots under a tree
crown can be harmful. Generally, protection is achieved by terracing the
grade to keep soil disturbance as far away as possible from the trunk. If
space is available, the tree may be unharmed if you let it remain on a
gently sloping mound. Another way to protect trees from root damage
caused by lowering the grade is to build a retaining wall between them
and the lower grade. This is an effective way to save trees if the grade
difference is less than 2 feet. Don’t forget to leave drain holes in the
wall.

__________________________________________________ ____________________
On the other hand, if you raise the grade by adding soil, the tree may
slowly decline in vigor or die because of difficulty in obtaining
essential air, water and nutrients. It’s often possible to add up to 2
inches of a light sandy-loamy soil without killing your trees. A tree
well with perforated drainage tiles is necessary to allow drainage if you
plan deeper fills. Contact a professional consulting arborist with help
with lowering or raising the grade around trees during construction.


Trees with damaged or buried roots often do not die immediately; in fact,
they may live several years before declining. Once damage becomes
evident, it is probably too late to correct the problem."
__________________________________________________ ____________________

[Bob F]

"FragileWarrior" > wrote in message
...
> FragileWarrior > wrote in
> news:f3mrvn
> :
>
>> "Bob F" > wrote in
>> :
>>
>>> My neighbor, who rents, recently raised the ground level around
>>> two
>>> poplar trees near my side of the lot. I have always understood
>>> that
>>> doing this will cause the bark to rot, thereby eventually killing
>>> the
>>> tree. I talked to the landlord, who said "his sources" say it is
>>> no
>>> problem. I am worried because the prevailing winter storm winds
>>> would
>>> tend to drop the tree on my house if it falls. The ground level
>>> now is
>>> about 1 foot higher on one tree and 2 feet higher on the other
>>> than
>>> the origional level. Am I worrying needlessly?
>>>
>>> Bob
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>> No, you're worrying correctly.
>>
>
>
> Sorry, I should have expanded that answer.
>
> Check out:
> http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/nwest/msg071016207308.html
>
> and:
> http://www.lsuagcenter.com/en/environment/forestry/urban_forestry/Protect
> ing+Shade+Trees+Around+Your+New+Home.htm
>
> which contains this bit:
> "Grade Changes
> Trees depend on the feeder roots in the upper 6 to 12 inches of soil
> for
> air, water and minerals. Most feeder roots are in an area under the
> tree
> crown in open-grown trees. If you extend perpendicular lines from
> the
> widest portions of the tree crown to the ground and connect these
> points,
> you'll enclose an area that includes most of the root system.
>
> Because most of the roots are in the upper 6 to 12 inches of soil,
> lowering the grade and consequently removing those roots under a
> tree
> crown can be harmful. Generally, protection is achieved by terracing
> the
> grade to keep soil disturbance as far away as possible from the
> trunk. If
> space is available, the tree may be unharmed if you let it remain on
> a
> gently sloping mound. Another way to protect trees from root damage
> caused by lowering the grade is to build a retaining wall between
> them
> and the lower grade. This is an effective way to save trees if the
> grade
> difference is less than 2 feet. Don't forget to leave drain holes in
> the
> wall.
>
> __________________________________________________ ____________________
> On the other hand, if you raise the grade by adding soil, the tree
> may
> slowly decline in vigor or die because of difficulty in obtaining
> essential air, water and nutrients. It's often possible to add up to
> 2
> inches of a light sandy-loamy soil without killing your trees. A
> tree
> well with perforated drainage tiles is necessary to allow drainage
> if you
> plan deeper fills. Contact a professional consulting arborist with
> help
> with lowering or raising the grade around trees during construction.
>
>
> Trees with damaged or buried roots often do not die immediately; in
> fact,
> they may live several years before declining. Once damage becomes
> evident, it is probably too late to correct the problem."


My question is more related to the raised soil level around the trunk
of the tree than to the effect on roots and feeder roots. The change
made affects relatively little of the ground around the tree, so its
effect on the root system shouldn't be all that big. I am specifically
concerned about whether the recently buried bark of the trunk will rot
and cause the tree to weaken.

Bob

[FragileWarrior]

"Bob F" > wrote in
:

>
> "FragileWarrior" > wrote in message
> ...
>> FragileWarrior > wrote in
>> news:f3mrvn
>> :
>>
>>> "Bob F" > wrote in
>>> :
>>>
>>>> My neighbor, who rents, recently raised the ground level around
>>>> two
>>>> poplar trees near my side of the lot. I have always understood
>>>> that
>>>> doing this will cause the bark to rot, thereby eventually killing
>>>> the
>>>> tree. I talked to the landlord, who said "his sources" say it is
>>>> no
>>>> problem. I am worried because the prevailing winter storm winds
>>>> would
>>>> tend to drop the tree on my house if it falls. The ground level
>>>> now is
>>>> about 1 foot higher on one tree and 2 feet higher on the other
>>>> than
>>>> the origional level. Am I worrying needlessly?
>>>>
>>>> Bob
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> No, you're worrying correctly.
>>>
>>
>>
>> Sorry, I should have expanded that answer.
>>
>> Check out:
>> http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/nwest/msg071016207308.html
>>
>> and:
>> http://www.lsuagcenter.com/en/environment/forestry/urban_forestry/Prot
>> ect ing+Shade+Trees+Around+Your+New+Home.htm
>>
>> which contains this bit:
>> "Grade Changes
>> Trees depend on the feeder roots in the upper 6 to 12 inches of soil
>> for
>> air, water and minerals. Most feeder roots are in an area under the
>> tree
>> crown in open-grown trees. If you extend perpendicular lines from
>> the
>> widest portions of the tree crown to the ground and connect these
>> points,
>> you'll enclose an area that includes most of the root system.
>>
>> Because most of the roots are in the upper 6 to 12 inches of soil,
>> lowering the grade and consequently removing those roots under a
>> tree
>> crown can be harmful. Generally, protection is achieved by terracing
>> the
>> grade to keep soil disturbance as far away as possible from the
>> trunk. If
>> space is available, the tree may be unharmed if you let it remain on
>> a
>> gently sloping mound. Another way to protect trees from root damage
>> caused by lowering the grade is to build a retaining wall between
>> them
>> and the lower grade. This is an effective way to save trees if the
>> grade
>> difference is less than 2 feet. Don't forget to leave drain holes in
>> the
>> wall.
>>
>> __________________________________________________ ____________________
>> On the other hand, if you raise the grade by adding soil, the tree
>> may
>> slowly decline in vigor or die because of difficulty in obtaining
>> essential air, water and nutrients. It's often possible to add up to
>> 2
>> inches of a light sandy-loamy soil without killing your trees. A
>> tree
>> well with perforated drainage tiles is necessary to allow drainage
>> if you
>> plan deeper fills. Contact a professional consulting arborist with
>> help
>> with lowering or raising the grade around trees during construction.
>>
>>
>> Trees with damaged or buried roots often do not die immediately; in
>> fact,
>> they may live several years before declining. Once damage becomes
>> evident, it is probably too late to correct the problem."
>
>
> My question is more related to the raised soil level around the trunk
> of the tree than to the effect on roots and feeder roots. The change
> made affects relatively little of the ground around the tree, so its
> effect on the root system shouldn't be all that big. I am specifically
> concerned about whether the recently buried bark of the trunk will rot
> and cause the tree to weaken.
>
> Bob
>
>
>

The most dangerous problem is with burying the feeder roots too deep:

>> On the other hand, if you raise the grade by adding soil, the tree
>> may
>> slowly decline in vigor or die because of difficulty in obtaining
>> essential air, water and nutrients. It's often possible to add up to
>> 2
>> inches of a light sandy-loamy soil without killing your trees.

Two inches -- maybe. Two feet, probably not.

Bringing anything up around the trunk is bad, however. This new trend of
volcano mulching is going to end up bringing diseases and insects to
healthy trees, too.

[Ann]

FragileWarrior > expounded:

>
>Bringing anything up around the trunk is bad, however. This new trend of
>volcano mulching is going to end up bringing diseases and insects to
>healthy trees, too.

New trend? It's been around for years, and thankfully seems to be
disappearing around here. I don't know anyone who does it anymore.
--
Ann, gardening in Zone 6a
South of Boston, Massachusetts
e-mail address is not checked
******************************