What is this?

[StephF]

Strimmer damage, see this all the time when surveying trees in school playing fields, where large machines and strimmers are used.

[daltontrees]

I'd agree with the mulching strategy, but please remember that mulching is there to do quite a few things, like keeping soil moist beneath, slowly feeding roots with nutrients, preventing weed and grass competition and usefully avoiding the need for grass cutting or strimming with the risks of abrasion that come with them. But to get the mulching started, it could be useful to get a couple of cardboard boxes from the supermarket and open them up then lay then around the base of the tree with decent overlaps, then mulch on top. This will finish off the weed competition, kill the grass and let the mulch settle while still allowing the roots to breathe.

[Gary Prentice]

I've wondered about the use of cardboard for a while. Or the reason for it's claimed benifit for encouraging earthworms and other soil fauna.

 

Looking at some trees yesterday for a large cardboard box manufacturer I asked about the glues used. Starch!

 

Everyday's a school day

[David Humphries]

I've wondered about the use of cardboard for a while. Or the reason for it's claimed benifit for encouraging earthworms and other soil fauna.

 

Looking at some trees yesterday for a large cardboard box manufacturer I asked about the glues used. Starch!

 

Everyday's a school day

 

 

 

It really doesn't take very long for the cardboard to disintegrate and is a great way to start the process

 

.

[Gary Prentice]

I followed the thread David, but either didn't see or remember the reasons. I will now. Working at a school this morning, first thirty trees have basal damage - ongoing, due to mowing.

[prj88]

Thanks for the advice everyone and particularly daltontrees for the cardboard tip! I've just put cardboard and mulch in place taking care not to mulch right up to the tree and keeping the mulch depth roughly 5-10cm. Thanks again.

Edited July 4, 2014 by prj88
mistake