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Piling snow around tree trunks - good, bad, or neither?

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Lawn Guy

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Feb 5, 2011, 10:38:03 PM2/5/11
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I've been keeping a circular area of my backyard clear of snow under a
maple tree by using a snow blower to concentrate the snow closer to the
trunk of the tree. I've probably gone overboard doing it. The pile is
roughly 4 feet in radius and about 5 feet high. Now because this is
snowblower-blown snow, it becomes more dense when it's piled up, so this
is becoming quite a heavy and dense pack of snow. The tree is about 18
- 20 inches diameter at the base, and about 12" diameter at the level
where the snow is currently piled up. This is a sugar maple, if that
matters, and (naturally) there is no road salt or other chemicals in the
snow.

The canopy of this tree (and hence it's roots) extends far beyond where
the snow has been piled up, so I don't think that oxygen availability
will be an issue.

I'm wondering if this snow pack can cause any harm to the bark of the
tree - perhaps not for the next month or so, but come april if the snow
pack is still in contact with the trunk. This tree doesn't really leaf
out until early may, if that's a factor.

Along the same lines, there are 3 shade-master locusts in the circular
boulevard of our court. Their trunks are 3 to 4 inches in diameter.
The circle is 50 ft diameter and is currently covered with an average of
about 2 feet of snow-blower-blown snow. So these trees also have snow
packed around their trunks. There is no salt used on our court - only
sand, and only occassionally.

So my question about snow packed around tree trunks applies to those
trees as well.

RicodJour

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Feb 5, 2011, 11:55:35 PM2/5/11
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All areas under trees are supposed to have the snow cleared in a
spiral pattern. I think it's code.

R

Message has been deleted

Lawn Guy

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Feb 6, 2011, 8:49:58 AM2/6/11
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frag wrote:

> > I'm wondering if this snow pack can cause any harm to the bark
> > of the tree
>

> Why are you doing this?

non-answer noted.

Red Green

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Feb 6, 2011, 9:01:57 AM2/6/11
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RicodJour <rico...@worldemail.com> wrote in
news:65d5b635-4240-4f14...@x17g2000yqa.googlegroups.com:

It is code. I was certified and licensed through the Sally Struthers "Do
you wanna make more money?" matchbook cover school of landscape
inspection. Came with a free rubber signature stamp - Professional
Inspector of Trees and Arbors [note acronym].

Tony Miklos

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Feb 6, 2011, 9:51:54 AM2/6/11
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Do you mean to say that you love your snow blower so much that you do it
just for fun? Come on, admit it.

I used to make a path around the house for place for the dog to run and
crap. Then I also made one so I could use the back door and the cellar
door. Actually made a circle for the dog a few weeks ago, moved south
and don't have to do it very often.

Vic Smith

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Feb 6, 2011, 10:26:45 AM2/6/11
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The reason I'd have to do that is to clear a spot for the dogs to
piss/crap.
Most likely pile the snow near a tree. In fact I did just that but
not with a snow blower.
Still not enough room for the dogs, but I got tired.
I'll be piling more snow around that tree soon.
You clear 2 feet of snow from 4' x 8' foot area, you get 4 feet of
snow on a different 4' x 8' area.
Easy to bury a tree trunk.
I don't worry about the tree. They get buried by snow all the time
and come out fine.

--Vic

RicodJour

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Feb 6, 2011, 10:48:23 AM2/6/11
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On Feb 6, 9:01 am, Red Green <postmas...@127.0.0.1> wrote:
> RicodJour <ricodj...@worldemail.com> wrote innews:65d5b635-4240-4f14-

>
> > All areas under trees are supposed to have the snow cleared in a
> > spiral pattern.  I think it's code.
>
> It is code. I was certified and licensed through the Sally Struthers "Do
> you wanna make more money?" matchbook cover school of landscape
> inspection. Came with a free rubber signature stamp - Professional
> Inspector of Trees and Arbors [note acronym].

Those are some serious creds, Red. Red creds...I like the sound of
it.

I always wanted to get accredited, but I was working and could never
find the hour necessary to study, take the test and make the
continuing payments to the school. You're a lucky man.

R

RicodJour

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Feb 6, 2011, 10:50:01 AM2/6/11
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On Feb 6, 9:51 am, Tony Miklos <Tony.Mik...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> I used to make a path around the house for place for the dog to run and
> crap.

Your dog can run and crap? Wow. Mine just kind of squats there.

R

Red Green

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Feb 6, 2011, 11:13:23 AM2/6/11
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RicodJour <rico...@worldemail.com> wrote in news:d48aaa06-1b8a-49a1-84fd-
f277ec...@24g2000yqa.googlegroups.com:

And!.... an official PITA.

Caesar Romano

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Feb 6, 2011, 1:50:53 PM2/6/11
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On Sat, 05 Feb 2011 22:38:03 -0500, Lawn Guy <La...@Guy.com> wrote Re
Piling snow around tree trunks - good, bad, or neither?:

>So my question about snow packed around tree trunks applies to those
>trees as well.

Yes, the packed snow around the trees will harm them because the snow
will still be there long after the surround snow is melted, thus
keeping the tree cold for a longer time than is natural for that
climate.
--
Work is the curse of the drinking class.

Message has been deleted

RicodJour

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Feb 6, 2011, 3:13:22 PM2/6/11
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On Feb 6, 1:50 pm, Caesar Romano <S...@uce.gov> wrote:
> On Sat, 05 Feb 2011 22:38:03 -0500, Lawn Guy <L...@Guy.com> wrote Re

> Piling snow around tree trunks - good, bad, or neither?:
>
> >So my question about snow packed around tree trunks applies to those
> >trees as well.
>
> Yes, the packed snow around the trees will harm them because the snow
> will still be there long after the surround snow is melted, thus
> keeping the tree cold for a longer time than is natural for that
> climate.

It's not so much the local climate that matters, it's the tree's
hardiness range. Sugar Maples range from 3-8 or 4-9 depending on the
variety and who you talk to, but both are well beyond what the snow
pack will do. In one way the snow pack is insulation from colder
temperatures, just like on your roof. The only difference is that the
tree might bloom later in the Spring, and if the OP is worried, he can
just blow the snow back to where it was in the first place.

R

Oren

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Feb 6, 2011, 4:49:46 PM2/6/11
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On Sat, 05 Feb 2011 22:38:03 -0500, Lawn Guy <La...@Guy.com> wrote:

>
>I'm wondering if this snow pack can cause any harm to the bark

Not if you wrapped the tree with brown Duct Tape.

Before the snow, of course.

Oren

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Feb 6, 2011, 6:07:43 PM2/6/11
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On Sun, 06 Feb 2011 16:13:23 GMT, Red Green <postm...@127.0.0.1>
wrote:

The good part is you can frame the diploma with duct tape, choice of
colors - of course.

Tony Miklos

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Feb 7, 2011, 3:18:37 PM2/7/11
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He was a special dog.

RicodJour

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Feb 7, 2011, 3:58:37 PM2/7/11
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:( I note the past tense. Sorry, Tony.

R

Tony Miklos

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Feb 8, 2011, 12:47:12 AM2/8/11
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No don't worry, I was just trying to think of a silly reply to the "run
and crap" because it made me laugh. As for the past tense, he went with
the ex and I was happy that way. Like my old neighbor said to me, "What
good is a dog that doesn't come when you call him?". Now I have a dog
that chose me, and most of the time she is very obedient.

RicodJour

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Feb 8, 2011, 12:51:14 AM2/8/11
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On Feb 8, 12:47 am, Tony Miklos <Tony.Mik...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On 2/7/2011 3:58 PM, RicodJour wrote:
> > On Feb 7, 3:18 pm, Tony Miklos<Tony.Mik...@gmail.com>  wrote:
> >> On 2/6/2011 10:50 AM, RicodJour wrote:
> >>> On Feb 6, 9:51 am, Tony Miklos<Tony.Mik...@gmail.com>    wrote:
>
> >>>> I used to make a path around the house for place for the dog to run and
> >>>> crap.
>
> >>> Your dog can run and crap?  Wow.  Mine just kind of squats there.
>
> >> He was a special dog.
>
> > :(  I note the past tense.  Sorry, Tony.
>
> No don't worry, I was just trying to think of a silly reply to the "run
> and crap" because it made me laugh.  As for the past tense, he went with
> the ex and I was happy that way.  Like my old neighbor said to me, "What
> good is a dog that doesn't come when you call him?".  Now I have a dog
> that chose me, and most of the time she is very obedient.

Well, it's all good then. Glad to hear it - though it was nice of you
to shovel a crap-lane for the pooch.

R

Message has been deleted

Red Green

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Feb 8, 2011, 8:15:29 PM2/8/11
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Oren <Or...@127.0.0.1> wrote in
news:uaauk6ptdpcjdeajk...@4ax.com:

In this case, green would be appropriate.

Red Green

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Feb 19, 2011, 9:12:37 AM2/19/11
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Tony Miklos <Tony....@gmail.com> wrote in news:8rb2crFqkbU1
@mid.individual.net:

Name was Ed right?

Red Green

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Feb 19, 2011, 9:25:02 AM2/19/11
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Oren <Or...@127.0.0.1> wrote in news:ro5uk6tfujq2la1m3drs1o3s54h941fa01@
4ax.com:

What a wizard. You're shottin' for Possum status ain't ya. Sorry, can't get
the plate till I croak.


http://oi53.tinypic.com/24b8du0.jpg

RicodJour

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Feb 19, 2011, 11:57:04 AM2/19/11
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On Feb 19, 9:25 am, Red Green <postmas...@127.0.0.1> wrote:
> Oren <O...@127.0.0.1> wrote:

> > On Sat, 05 Feb 2011 22:38:03 -0500, Lawn Guy <L...@Guy.com> wrote:
>
> >>I'm wondering if this snow pack can cause any harm to the bark
>
> > Not if you wrapped the tree with brown Duct Tape.
>
> > Before the snow, of course.
>
> What a wizard. You're shoottin' for Possum status ain't ya. Sorry, can't get

> the plate till I croak.
>
> http://oi53.tinypic.com/24b8du0.jpg

Why does Santa have his hands stuck up two skunks' butts?

R

DerbyDad03

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Feb 19, 2011, 2:16:22 PM2/19/11
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On Feb 6, 1:50 pm, Caesar Romano <S...@uce.gov> wrote:
> On Sat, 05 Feb 2011 22:38:03 -0500, Lawn Guy <L...@Guy.com> wrote Re

> Piling snow around tree trunks - good, bad, or neither?:
>
> >So my question about snow packed around tree trunks applies to those
> >trees as well.
>
> Yes, the packed snow around the trees will harm them because the snow
> will still be there long after the surround snow is melted, thus
> keeping the tree cold for a longer time than is natural for that
> climate.
> --
> Work is the curse of the drinking class.

Did you make that up or can that fact be found in an arborist's
textbook someplace?

Red Green

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Feb 20, 2011, 8:58:01 AM2/20/11
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RicodJour <rico...@worldemail.com> wrote in
news:774a193c-c7db-4c93...@w7g2000pre.googlegroups.com:

Don't knock it 'till yer tried it.

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