Lucombe oak root health help !

[likeitorlumpit]

Keep us informed won't you- even if it is a reply in a years time. Hopefully not bad news- I think the presence of the trees improves the building

[Tommy Hutchinson]

Yes i will happly keep the site informed, I will have the outcome of the plan today hopefully.

[Paul Barton]

As for how long soil compaction has been going on for i would say good 50 years of heavy compaction may be more.

 

If there have been many years of activity that you'd expect to compact the soil then I'd say that either the soil is pretty sandy so compaction is not becoming a major issue in terms of water percolation, or the tree has sent out roots a long way from the stem so that it is taking its moisture from where it is available. Possibly a combination of both.

 

The way to know if the soil is so compacted that the tree will struggle is to get the soil tested for its bulk density. Send some off to a lab.

 

Mr Shute is a great guy - I'm sure he will help.

[Gary Prentice]

If there have been many years of activity that you'd expect to compact the soil then I'd say that either the soil is pretty sandy so compaction is not becoming a major issue in terms of water percolation, or the tree has sent out roots a long way from the stem so that it is taking its moisture from where it is available. Possibly a combination of both.

 

The way to know if the soil is so compacted that the tree will struggle is to get the soil tested for its bulk density. Send some off to a lab.

 

Mr Shute is a great guy - I'm sure he will help.

 

Sorry if i'm being a bit dense, it's been a rough weekend. Can a lab test for bulk density? I thought that was tested in situ with a penetrometer (sp?) What is the lab testing for?

 

I'm not trying to nit-pick but I'm not following what your saying Paul.

[treeseer]

Sorry if i'm being a bit dense, it's been a rough weekend. Can a lab test for bulk density? I thought that was tested in situ with a penetrometer (sp?) What is the lab testing for?

 

I'm not trying to nit-pick but I'm not following what your saying Paul.

 

In the lab they dry soil in ovens before measuring.

 

http://soils.usda.gov/sqi/assessment/files/test_kit_complete.pdf

 

As you suggest, onsite assessment can be good too. With soils as mixed up as these, lab tests may have limited usefulness.

[Paul Barton]

Sorry if i'm being a bit dense, it's been a rough weekend. Can a lab test for bulk density? I thought that was tested in situ with a penetrometer (sp?) What is the lab testing for?

 

I'm not trying to nit-pick but I'm not following what your saying Paul.

 

No problem...I had to double-check I wasn't spouting rubbish when you asked:biggrin:

 

I believe lab soil tests can determine bulk density as long as they have a good sample - in order that they can measure the dry-weight of a known volume. I think in practice this means collecting a profile using a tube that needs to be completely full - as sort of explained here: Testing for Bulk Density of Soil | eHow

 

The reason I suggested a lab test rather than a penetrometer was because I assumed this may be less onerous on the college - perhaps easier to collect a core and send it off than find a penetrometer. Perhaps not though?

[Gary Prentice]

Paul, I don't recall ever reading that method of testing, although reading it does make sense (bulk density g/cm3). I did say I was tired this morning:blushing:

 

Guy, thanks for the link, I've only read the density section but I will download it all for later:thumbup1:

[Tommy Hutchinson]

The college have decided to fence of the whole area.

 

We are going to hire an Airspade and decompact the soil around as much of the RPA as we can.

 

The college have now realised that need to consider the enormous value that trees have, they have also said how educational the whole project has been for them and I hope the legacy I have left carry’s on.

 

It’s a victory for me, you, everyone and the environment.

 

If you are persistent and believe in what you are doing with a passion, you can change the world.

 

[Paul Barton]

Nice one Thomas.

[treeseer]

No parking at all in that whole area now?

 

Waste of space imo unless other plants installed then.

 

Oak roots would benefit from interacting with the right plants.