You know, the thing with the dirt around the trees is kinda funny. Now,
I see that what's popular at universities and corporate sites is the
making of dirt rings around the trees, where a nice tidy circle is cut
maybe 3 feet from the trunk circling the tree with a mini ditch less
than a foot deep. Then, they pile the dirt up to the tree making a
little incline. Go figure. Form before function I guess.

Steveo wrote:
"Mike" wrote:
I have two large trees in my backyard. One is an oak and the other is an
ash. Currently the trees are surrounded by double stacked landscape
timbers. Behind the timbers, up to the trunks, dirt is piled 6-8 inches
deep. I suspect the previous owners did this since this piled dirt is the
highest points in the yard.

Here's my question. Would it be safe for the trees if I were to remove
all the excess dirt surrounding them bringing the level back to the rest
of the yard? The dirt has been there for at least five years.

Thanks
Mike

I'd say you'd be doing those trees a favor, but if you're concerned with
the shock factor, you could remove it in stages. Dirt shouldn't be that far
up the trunk if I'm picturing your description right.