Root zone amelioration

[David Humphries]

Horse Chestnut.

 

Heavy Compaction.

 

Can't move the Structure.

 

De-compaction

 

Work in Progress

 

Some shots........

 

.

[David Humphries]

Have sectioned the root plate, half will be worked on this Autumn, next year same time for the final 12 sections.

 

Adding composted wood chip to increase organic horizon.

 

Parts were literally like concrete.

 

The picket iron shot shows how far the airspade was worked down to.

Like the proverbial knife, so it is.........

 

.

[elicokiz]

Thats a fantastic series of pictures, nice to see the local authority place so much value on their trees..out of intrest where is the park you were working in??

regards

Dave

[David Humphries]

Hello Dave,

this is in part of the North London Open Spaces (Hampstead Heath division) for the City of London.

 

Golders Hill Park, which just so happens to be where me yard is

 

Locals are loving seeing the process, although it's just a Chesi, it holds memories for a lot of the older public here who grew up watching this Tree grow.

 

.

[Xerxses]

Brilliant Monkey-D! So you decided for different method then.. no radial trenching or have I missed something? I still think you should move that leftbehind sewer pipe..

 

 

 

Will follow this one close...great pics! Will use them to promote the idea to my boss, might persuade her to allow me to go ahead with my oak.

[tommer9]

NIce oneDavid, but as has been expressed, that 'sculpture' does detract from the beauty of the Aesculus somewhat...

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Im curious as to the reasoning behind the large woodchip addition rather than say humus which would last longer, and maybe a little perlite to increase longer term airation and resitance to further compaction. That or pumis/tufa.

[Paul Barton]

I imagine woodchip looks and smells nicer.

 

I had a load of compost delivered to spread over an oak rootplate after decompaction works recently and it stank the neighbourhood out!

[Dean Lofthouse]

Veiwable from space

[Mark Bolam]

Dave, any idea why such intense compaction had occurred from human traffic?

 

Had Josh been meeting some of his young ladies there?