50 year old Maple with new paver edge

[YorkshireGroup]

Hello,

I recently purchased a home that has two maple trees in the backyard and another set of two in the front. The previous owners planted the trees around 50 years ago and in that time the trees just flowed naturally into the surrounding grass. About two years ago the sellers paid to have a border of bricks installed. It looks like dirt, pebbles, mulch, and a lining of plastic around the base was added. The material within the border looks to be about 2-4 inches higher than the base of the grass. The new border looks nice but my highest concern is the long term health of these trees. Is this ok or do you recommend i do something to this setup?

Any tips are greatly appreciated!!! I am a newbie. Thank you for your time. 

[Stubby]

Wont the plastic membrane ( I presume to stop weeds ) also hinder the roots of the trees from getting water ? 

[YorkshireGroup]

My thoughts so far are that the new material is too high up the tree and the plastic membrane like you said will block water absorption. Based on what I've read I'm thinking to remove as much plastic as i can, remove 1-2 inches of the new material surrounding the tree, and adding mulch 

[Stubby]

6 minutes ago, YorkshireGroup said:

My thoughts so far are that the new material is too high up the tree and the plastic membrane like you said will block water absorption. Based on what I've read I'm thinking to remove as much plastic as i can, remove 1-2 inches of the new material surrounding the tree, and adding mulch 

Agreed  . The roots have to breath .  In addition I would  remove the blocks extend the un grassed area in a circle around the base of the trees .

Edited September 24, 2018 by Stubby

[htb]

Also looks like girdling roots there

[YorkshireGroup]

So far i have removed 35 gallons of material. This is what it looks like. I think you may be right with the girdling.

 

How should i treat these little exposed roots? Also do  you recommend i just keep removing the material until it is flat?

 

 

[YorkshireGroup]

120 gallons more of material and it looks like this. Any recommendations on how to treat these roots or approach this? Thanks

[Gary Prentice]

Looking at te plastic around that self-girdling root, I'd think that it predates the brickwork. All those fibrous roots would have been better left covered, they will have dessicated now and be dead/dying.

 

I think that that the original ground level was at the base of the stem, regrading has occurred outside of the brickwork to some extent. As the damage is probably done and the trees have adapted (or not) to it,re-mulch the surrounds without piling mulch against the stems. If you don't like the brickwork, carefully dismantle it as much as you can to below ground and just continue the mulch over the top.

[benedmonds]

I think you should stop and put back what you have removed asap. Any damage has been done you are only making it worse..