changing the soil level at tree base

[dexta]

On a construction site near me they raised the ground level around several trees and LA made them remove it

[Lee Winger]

I can't believe this kind of bad practise still goes on, what on earth the TO's doing, don't they do site visits anymore [silly question]

[Scottie]

The soil around the trees has to be removed until you can see the root flair. Then there is opportunity for air-spading the soil to de-compact it. Then a good mulch of hawthorn or cherry upto the trees but not touching them. Speak to your tree officer about it.

[daltontrees]

I have witnessed this type of thing happening locally, an extension to a nursing home 3 years ago did not directly affect about 40 trees to the front of it but the developer spread excavations and topsoil scrapings around the base of the trees to get rid of the stuff, and compacted it. Within a year about 20 sycamore, ash and limes were all but dead, they then lost limbs in gales the year after and have been now reduced to 4m habitat poles. The effect of the burial was immediate, dramatic, observable and ultimately fatal. Furthermore, and it is a different matter I know, it was foreseeable and the trees should have been protected by the Council through planning conditions. Over 20 mature and mid aged trees lost to current and future generations by collective apathy or ignorance. I will try and get a picture of it for you, it is a sad sad scene and memorial to intransigence.

 

Sounds like you have a similar situation on your hands. In these heavy rains the roots might already have been drowned (and root tissue killed) by newly elevated ground water levels and void-filling by leached particles and compaction. It would be nice to think the damage could be undone by re-excavation but...

[One Buck]

The soil around the trees has to be removed until you can see the root flair. Then there is opportunity for air-spading the soil to de-compact it. Then a good mulch of hawthorn or cherry upto the trees but not touching them. Speak to your tree officer about it.

 

 

Why specifically hawthorn or cherry?

Edited January 1, 2013 by One Buck

[David Humphries]

Why specifically hawthorn or cherry?

 

Genus with high available sugar content.

Boosts the roots.

 

 

 

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[One Buck]

Genus with high available sugar content.

Boosts the roots.

 

 

 

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Ahhh. Thank you.

 

 

 

Buck

[Paul Cleaver]

I had a job 10yrs or more ago reinstating original soil levels on some early mature Oak trees. the trees had 12" + extra top soil over the roots and had been like this for several months.

 

the trees still appear to be ok at present - fingers crossed

[Scottie]

What about incorporating molasses while you airspace? We were shown it by Glynn Percival at our latest Tech meeting.

[David Humphries]

What about incorporating molasses while you airspade? We were shown it by Glynn Percival at our latest Tech meeting.

 

Did Glynn talk around quantities Scottie ?

 

 

 

 

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