wrote:
Clark... wrote:
CathyLee wrote:
the roots of the trees are exposed
Will it hurt the trees to add 1-2 feet of soil around them so I can
mow around them?

CathyLee



Don't listen to these guys, I bury my tree's all the time!
works great with the few remaining black walnut trees I have and
it keeps down the 10" pine sticks of doom!

Clark...

Why in the hell do you think the trees put roots at or above ground
level? So they can breathe and absorb nutrients. IT WILL EVENTUALLY
KILL THE TREE!
This is an excerpt from:
http://extension.missouri.edu/explor...ulture0009.htm

Should I stop spraying them with Brush-B-Gone too??
I'm not much of a tree lover anyway, but I do like our liriodendron
tulipifera (tulip tree) I understand they are pretty rare in my area (I
don't know).
Nevermind I've decided I do like trees, as they burn nice in my fireplace.
;-)



First, the reason why the roots are growing on the surface is that the
soil is shallow and there is no way for the roots to go but up, when
they increase in diameter. Maples are the most common culprits, but
many tree species will do the same thing. People often ask whether
the roots can simply be cut off near the trunk or whether they can be
covered by soil to allow mowing under the tree. My answer is that
neither of these options is good for the tree. Cutting off a main
root will cause serious stress, since it may remove up to 30 or 40
percent of the root system immediately. Covering the roots with more
than 3 or 4 inches of top soil may suffocate the roots near the
surface or, if the new soil has a high clay content it may suffocate
cells in the bark of the roots, leading to root rot problems. Also,
this is a temporary fix, since the roots will continue to increase in
diameter and eventually push their way to the surface again through
the added soil.
So, what to do. In my opinion, the answer is to stop fighting mother
nature. Nobody mows under trees in the woods. I recommend mulching the
entire area under the tree and planting shade tolerant perennials such
as Epimedium, Pulmonaria, Ferns and Hostas in pockets of soil between
the roots. A limited amount of soil can be brought in, but not more
than a few inches in depth. Ground covers such as English ivy can
also be used to reduce maintenance requirements. Plants under the
tree canopy will have to be watered frequently due to competition
from tree roots, but in the end, the area will have a nice, woodsy
feel to it. And, there will be less lawn to mow.

Chris Starbuck
State Extension Specialist
Woody Ornamentals

Clark...
--
Don't you have Google in your part of the world?