thoughts on restoring a burried yew

[stihllearning]

hi guys , sorry no pics as yet but some will follow.

 

a client of mine has a v big yew which some fool buried under 3 ft of concrete and patio slabs about 10 years ago,now with the slabs gone I intend to remove the concrete and re-establish the correct soil level, mulch and feed.

 

the trees in a pretty poor state with a receding canopy which now has last seasons extension growth starting to recede as well.

 

my questions really directed at whether the removal of the concrete and feeding /mulching may just tip it over the edge ?

[Paul Melarange]

I think you should go for it. What have you got to loose? Sounds like the tree has entered a mortality spiral and will die if there is no remedial action carried out.

 

Maybe remove the concrete, then do some soil analysis such as measuring bulk density and texture. That way you can decide whether mulching will eleviate any minor compaction that has occurred or whether decompaction with a compressed air lance I.e air spade is required.

 

Applying a sugar solution out to just beyond the drip line may also help.

[Chris at eden]

I think you should go for it. What have you got to loose? Sounds like the tree has entered a mortality spiral and will die if there is no remedial action carried out.

 

Maybe remove the concrete, then do some soil analysis such as measuring bulk density and texture. That way you can decide whether mulching will eleviate any minor compaction that has occurred or whether decompaction with a compressed air lance I.e air spade is required.

 

Applying a sugar solution out to just beyond the drip line may also help.

 

 

Good advice. In terms of testing compaction you can pick up a Dicky John Pentrometer for just over 200 quid. Bit of an outlay at the beggining but once you have one you can use it again and again and obviously charge for the investigation.

[Daniël Bos]

hi guys , sorry no pics as yet but some will follow.

 

a client of mine has a v big yew which some fool buried under 3 ft of concrete and patio slabs about 10 years ago,now with the slabs gone I intend to remove the concrete and re-establish the correct soil level, mulch and feed.

 

the trees in a pretty poor state with a receding canopy which now has last seasons extension growth starting to recede as well.

 

my questions really directed at whether the removal of the concrete and feeding /mulching may just tip it over the edge ?

 

If the tree has lived with this burden for the last decade, then lowering the soil level to it's previous height will probably do more damage than good.

Removing the concrete (but be careful not to dig too deep, cosmetics are not too relevant if you're mulching over it anyway), feeding and mulching sounds good though.

 

I've found compaction under concrete often not too bad as all too often the people that put it in cut corners on prep and just add another inch of concrete to compensate.

[treeseer]

Gradual may be better, and maintain moisture around any exposed roots. If roots have grown into fill try tehn be very gradual, and wait til summer's over to remove many roots.

[stihllearning]

thanks guys, all very useful

 

do you know of any links to info about sugar solutions,

 

specifically dilutions and volumes,

 

please keep comments coming.

[Paul Melarange]

http://www.myerscough.ac.uk/downloads/pdfs/Subjects/Arboriculture%20-%20NYTOG/NWTOG10/SOIL%20INJECTIONS%20OF%20SUGARS%20IMPROVE%20ROOT%20GROWTH%20OF%20E.pdf

[Paul Melarange]

I attended an Arboricultural Association meeting at Reading University last Saturday with Dr Glynn Percival. He recommended application of a sugar solution at a rate 30-50g per litre of water per square metre of ground. It should be applied from the trunk out to 1m beyond the drip line.

[stihllearning]

thank you paul, that's going to fill my evening.

 

I feel a photo montage coming on

[Will Heal]

Why thy sugar solution ?

 

 

 

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