Raised soil around poplar tree.
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 |
Raised soil around poplar tree.
"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. |
Raised soil around poplar tree.
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/l...016207308.html and: http://www.lsuagcenter.com/en/enviro...restry/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." __________________________________________________ ____________________ |
Raised soil around poplar tree.
"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/l...016207308.html and: http://www.lsuagcenter.com/en/enviro...restry/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 |
Raised soil around poplar tree.
"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/l...016207308.html and: http://www.lsuagcenter.com/en/enviro..._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. |
Raised soil around poplar tree.
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 ****************************** |
All times are GMT +1. The time now is 05:33 PM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
GardenBanter