The message
from Jaques d'Alltrades contains
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The message
from "Sue da Nimm" . contains these words:


Neighbours have levelled their garden by building patios. They had two
chestnut trees in the middle of one. They used rubble topped by scalpings,
then a layer of soil and turf. 3 feet of the chestnut tree trunks were
buried.
This was done more than than ten years ago and the trees are still
healthy.
Doesn't mean it would be the same with an oak, though.

Problems due to earthing-up don't happen overnight. If the turf drains
fery quickly and very thoroughly they *MAY* get away with it. As a
primarily woodland tree, sweet chestnuts can be temperamental at the
best of times in a garden environment.

I'm not saying tha if you earth a tree up, disease is inevitable: it
isn't. In the long term it's highly likely though.

Agreed. Horse chestnuts are particularly prone to suddenly dropping a
huge branch in healthy green leaf. The leaves are so large that they
offer a lot of windresistance, so if the tree has any lurking internal
weaknesses caused by rot it's particularly at risk in windy summer
storms. A tree I would never want to live close beside.

Janet.