changing the soil level at tree base

[num83r13]

Hi, What issues arise when soil is heaped up against tree?

I'm sure everyone has seen it at development sites where they landscape and level off the ground and push soil around trees and change the level.

 

At a near by car park construction site they have levelled off a banking where there is five mature sycamores, and the soil level is now 2-3 foot maybe higher than the base of the tree and compacted down with a digger.

Will this kill the trees through rot, loss of water, oxygen etc? and what sort of timescale would it take before seeing the effects of this damage.

 

I'll take some photos the next time I pass as these trees are virtually overhanging a town main road.

[David Humphries]

A desperate situation really.

 

The roots will struggle to get required nutrients and water, and gaseous exchanges will be compromised within the rooting environment.

 

The trunks are likely to suffer bark decay where they are under soil levels.

 

These trees are unlikely to survive.

 

Expect to see them in leaf next spring but I'd imagine they will suffer from wilt at some stage within the next growing season.

 

 

Always interested in seeing images of this type of damage.

 

 

.

[RopeKnight]

Death sentence.

[HCR]

Probably worth mentioning it to the tree officer/planning officer. Someone's cocked up - either the developer or the LPA.

[bolthole]

Can only agree - very poor practice.

 

Get the tree officer in while there's an opportunity to take remedial action.

[enrieb]

Some part of the Roots near the surface are important for exchanging gases, the roots 'breath/absorb' oxygen, and by coving the ground where the roots are established with say, 12" of soil, the roots will suffocate and die. The roots would also suffocate and be susceptible to disease if the root-zone became waterlogged for an extended period of time, depending upon the type of plant/tree.

 

I believe that after rain as the water drains deeper into the soil, air is pulled down towards the surface roots. Oxygenated water should also help the roots, I expect the water would be oxygenated by the process of rainfall. But, I am by no means an expert and will yield to anyone with a more educated explanation of the root zone and its use of air.

[Gary Prentice]

They will be ok until long after the jobs been signed off and the main contractors been paid.

 

Just to add to the list, new root growth may be compromised, due to the higher soil bulk density (dependant on soil particle size) in that the root tip cannot physically exert enough pressure to penetrate the soil.

 

Hopefully the trees are protected and the TO can enforce all the soil remediation works available.

[StephF]

Never change soil level around a tree, young or old, or damage roots, it will always harm a trees health or kill it.

[kev7937]

Didn't one of the kiwi posters put up pics of a large oak that went over some years after having the roots buried

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[likeitorlumpit]

Bad move- roots like where they live and most trees can't adapt in time.