On Fri, 16 Apr 2004 10:39:14 GMT, "Bob" opined:

I bought a yard of compost for top dressing flower beds, and also want to
put a couple inches around several two or three year old trees.

My question is: Should I remove the grass before putting on the compost,
or cover the grass and let it grow through?

Next question: How close to the tree trunk should the compost go, and
how far out? ( I thought as far out as the drip line)

Thanks for your advice.

Bob


Tree root hairs are primarily out at the drip line of the tree. That's the part
of the tree where the canopy drips water off. That's where the compost will
serve best. If you can remove the turf, great, if not, take a fork and make
jagged holes by rocking the fork back and forth at the drip line and put the
compost there. Do not put it up against the bark of the tree. You should
always be able to see a root flare at the base of the tree. That's where the
base of the tree meets the soil and has a somewhat wider than the trunk area.
If you don't see a flare, it's possible the tree was planted too deeply.

So, say it again, the place where the roots see the most benefit from the
compost is out at the drip line of the tree, aerate the soil rocking a fork back
and forth, or pay someone or rent a machine to core aerate your soil. Core
aeration is possibly the best thing you can do for turf, and trees.