adding soil around trees?

[CathyLee]

the roots of the trees are exposed Will it hurt the trees to add 1-2 feet of soil around them so I can mow around them?

CathyLee

[Mel M Kelly]

YES if you put it up against the bark it will kill most trees. What kind of tree and how old.

From Mel & Donnie in Bluebird Valley

[Eggs Zachtly]

Yes.

[Bob]

Don't know what part of the country you are in, but I'd guess maybe the trees are Arizona Ash which are famous for putting roots out at grpund level.

If they are Ash trees, they are pretty much worthless and you may want to consider taking them out and putting in a better tree.

At any rate, if the tree is worth saving, put no more than a couple inches of dirt around it. Any more will eventually kill the tree.

Bob-tx

[Clark...]

Don't listen to these guys, I bury my tree's all the time! works great with the few remaining black walnut trees I have and it keeps down the 10" pine sticks of doom!

Clark...

[Clark...]

Dude I was joking, I have not seen a reply so I assumed the OP was done with the post. besides it's like a graveyard in here lately, someone had to post something. by the way I have plenty of trees with no exposed roots WTF?

Clark...

[Eggs Zachtly]

It shortens the trees' life, dood. That's fact. The roots go where the oxygen, water, and nutrients, that that tree needs, are located. If you put them (the roots) lower in the soil (even by a few inches), you're depriving the tree of one, or even all of them.

[Eggs Zachtly]

An emoticon, or even stating that you were joking, would have gone a long way in conveying that. =) (Especially, considering all of replies you referenced gave basically the same info.)

My apologies if you chuckled as you formatted your reply. I had my speakers turned down, and didn't hear it. =P

Could have been a drive-by, sure. Could have also been someone that has other priorities ATM. ;)

Everyone is outside, working in their yards/gardens, and enjoying the nice change in the weather. Why aren't you? =P

Not /all/ trees expose their roots, naturally. Maples are notorious for it. I have a Silver Maple in my front yard, that has several roots that have broken the surface of the soil. Those roots are now calloused, to the point of becoming bark-like. Were I to cover them with soil, they would most likely rot, and I'd lose a beautiful tree long before I should. It was here long before I arrived (If I had to guess, I'd venture it was at least 50 years old), and I hope it's here long after I'm gone. =)

If yours have no exposed roots because /you/ covered them, the tree will not live as long as it would were they left exposed. It probably won't die in a year, or maybe even ten years, but it will surely die sooner than it should.

Does that eggsplain "TF" to your "W"? =)

[do_see]

Why in the hell do you think the trees put roots at or above ground level? So they can breathe and absorb nutrients. IT WILL EVENTUALLY KILL THE TREE! This is an excerpt from:

the reason why the roots are growing on the surface is that the soil is shallow and there is no way for the roots to go but up, when they increase in diameter. Maples are the most common culprits, but many tree species will do the same thing. People often ask whether the roots can simply be cut off near the trunk or whether they can be covered by soil to allow mowing under the tree. My answer is that neither of these options is good for the tree. Cutting off a main root will cause serious stress, since it may remove up to 30 or 40 percent of the root system immediately. Covering the roots with more than 3 or 4 inches of top soil may suffocate the roots near the surface or, if the new soil has a high clay content it may suffocate cells in the bark of the roots, leading to root rot problems. Also, this is a temporary fix, since the roots will continue to increase in diameter and eventually push their way to the surface again through the added soil.

So, what to do. In my opinion, the answer is to stop fighting mother nature. Nobody mows under trees in the woods. I recommend mulching the entire area under the tree and planting shade tolerant perennials such as Epimedium, Pulmonaria, Ferns and Hostas in pockets of soil between the roots. A limited amount of soil can be brought in, but not more than a few inches in depth. Ground covers such as English ivy can also be used to reduce maintenance requirements. Plants under the tree canopy will have to be watered frequently due to competition from tree roots, but in the end, the area will have a nice, woodsy feel to it. And, there will be less lawn to mow.

Chris Starbuck State Extension Specialist Woody Ornamentals

[Clark...]

*My fault*. I have a nasty habit of telling a joke or making up a ridiculous story and telling it with a totaly straight face, I guess it happens in this means of cominicay also. Hell I told a story about a 10" pine stick once... Oh wait that ridiculous story is true :-(

Because Kathy is! :-) Hence the reason I bought the lawntractor I did, she was out all day Sunday towing along the lawnsweeper and mowing. (while I did important things like painting and staining and drinking a couple of beers) did you know it takes 4 hours to paint a door? chuckle.....

It does explain it, what a slow way to kill a tree!!!! My chainsaw takes them down much faster than burying the roots!!!!! Clark...

[Clark...]

I'm not much of a tree lover anyway, but I do like our liriodendron tulipifera (tulip tree) I understand they are pretty rare in my area (I don't know). Nevermind I've decided I do like trees, as they burn nice in my fireplace. ;-)

Clark...

[Clark...]

cominicay??? OK I'm making up words too, (this means of communication) In my defense it was 6:26 am at the time, and spell check somehow missed it. Doh!!!

[Steveo]

I'd rather cut down those poplar's, sometimes they will make a divit when they fall on their own.

[Red]

Hey, most trees I've planted in my yard have become firewood sometime in it's life. If they develop undesireable traits, they're gone & replaced. Most recent was a 40yo silver maple that wouldn't keep it's roots under the soil. :>) Anyone know if sawtooth oaks have any bad habits before I let it get big?

Red

[do_see]

Why don't you guys just plant a groundcover under the trees? No more mowing and no more problem with the above ground roots. You're happy. The tree is happy.

[Dave]

Not sure Cathy, even after reading all the reply data to date.

Common tree I saw at my great-grandfather's home is the pecan. Not sure which type of pecan, I was young. They were 50-60 feet high. The roots were about halfway above the soil line. Couldn't get a lawnmower over it while running, blade would strike the root. These were big stinker roots. Was common in the fall to have fallen leaves well above the root upper surface. Mostly, these roots were exposed all the time.

Common in my neck of the woods are juniper ashe. They have many surface traveler roots. These roots usually get buried by their own fallen leaves/needles. If very dry and windy for awhile, these roots will get exposed again in some cases. Mostly not. A quick pass with a bow rake will easily expose these roots.

Yet, I've seen common as most people in urban areas, trees surface roots covered with concrete except a small area around the trunk. Perhaps even asphalt. And, in some cases, for a tree that's been in that arena for awhile, may be pushing the concrete away from the trunk. Its rare as such tree gets cut down before that can happen.

But, what do we know? We're just common folk observing the real world. Dave

[Red]

That's ok IF you like the look of ground cover around a tree. I don't. Therefore I wouldn't be happy. And the tree's happiness does not come before mine.

Red

[do_see]

Your happiness is to kill the tree? Why don't you just cut the trees down then? Sheeeeeesh.

[Clark...]

OK OK I'm almost done, I just need some advice on some problems that came up,

Allright, I exposed all the roots I could on three tree's, but now I have all this extra dirt everywhere, huge holes in the ground, and the tree's won't stand up anymore, the poor things just fell over after I dug up the roots.

Two questions: A. Can I use strong cables attached to the tree's and stake them all around so they stop tipping over? (and what kinda cable)?

1. What should I do about all the dirt I removed? will the local dump take it?

I don't want my tree's to die from lack of water oxygen and nutrients!! please respond promptly as my trees are laying their sides and wilting badly!!!!

Clark... :-p

[do_see]

One answer. You've got problems dude. [;^p Actually, if you leave them be, they will eventually stand up by themselves. Leave a banjo in the branches and they will give you a concert. Put a guitar in another branch and they will play deliverance all day long. I wonder what would happen if you threw in a set of drums. Maybe you'd get a power tree-o. Ha ha ha ha ha ! Get it? A power tree-o?????