Holes dug in ground around turkey oaks

[stevelucocq]

Today I was surveying a few mature turkey oak/ horse chestnut trees. There were some deep holes (2.4 metres away from the base of the tree) which seemed to be dug in the last 12 months?? The holes were some 2.2 m wide by 60cm and some 1.5 metres deep. What are peoples thoughts on the long-term effect these holes will have on the health of the tree. I am thinking a fair amount of root damage has occured as one large turkey oak had three of these holes around one side of the tree. For this sort of damage my experience would say it takes some time for the symptoms to show?

 

Also what are peoples views on turkey oaks for estimated life expectancy and there tendency to spilt out large limbs when mature?

 

Any views or opinions would be good; I have my own just interested in other peoples take on it.

 

thanks Steve:thumbup1:

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

who dug the holes, badgers or humans, rabbits?

 

aint seen you post for a while, hows it going?

[stevelucocq]

Hi thanks for the reply, yeah bit of a random post, the holes were dung by possibly a mini-digger to a depth of 1 metre. I have concluded that the machinery damage from the holes and soil compression from machinery traffic would have a marked influence on the life expectancy of the tree. Soil improvement work should be carried out on any tree of value to be retained etc. Seems like a fair conclusion?

 

Yes I have been up to a few interesting thing whilst trying to sort out my knee injury. Also some one I know from Swansea has just got a job as a assistant warden at Burnham Beeches ….very jealous!!! Will be taking a trip up there once he is settled in.

 

Cheers steve

[David Humphries]

Yes I have been up to a few interesting thing whilst trying to sort out my knee injury. Also some one I know from Swansea has just got a job as a assistant warden at Burnham Beeches ….very jealous!!! Will be taking a trip up there once he is settled in.

 

Cheers steve

 

Met him up at Staverton, seems like a good lad.

 

He's got a great oportunity there

 

 

 

 

.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Steve, if your down for a visit give us a shout and i will pop down to BB too!

 

Fair assesment on the oak I reckon, though havent seen it!

[stevelucocq]

Met him up at Staverton, seems like a good lad.

 

He's got a great oportunity there

 

 

.

 

Goodstuff.....yes your right there. I would have loved an opportunity like that at his age...hopefully get up there soon....dont be too hard on the young welsh lad! cheers steve

[stevelucocq]

Steve, if your down for a visit give us a shout and i will pop down to BB too!

 

Fair assesment on the oak I reckon, though havent seen it!

 

great!....ok will keep you posted! cheers steve

Edited June 14, 2010 by stevelucocq

[Paul Jenks]

What were the dimensions of the trees? If you look at Fig.59 Page 95 of The Body Language of Trees by Mattheck and Breloer he gives a table of distances from the base of a tree whereby the severing of structural roots will destabilise the tree, other health issues notwithstanding. With the distances you've mentioned the trees would have to have diameters of less than 500mm, measured above the buttress roots, to have not been seriously compromised by the works.

[stevelucocq]

What were the dimensions of the trees? If you look at Fig.59 Page 95 of The Body Language of Trees by Mattheck and Breloer he gives a table of distances from the base of a tree whereby the severing of structural roots will destabilise the tree, other health issues notwithstanding. With the distances you've mentioned the trees would have to have diameters of less than 500mm, measured above the buttress roots, to have not been seriously compromised by the works.

 

thanks Paul for this!....I have a copy but did not notice that graph...the dimensions were pretty large of the turkey oak at 945 mm diameter at 1.5m. I did have a pretty good look and noted a few medium sized served roots. I have concluded to monitor for future signs of decline (with soil improvement work) and root plate movement over the next 12-18 months. I feel the removal of tree is unjust as approximately only 11% of the RPA has been damage. Any other opinions?

 

Thanks for the input

Steve