Planter around tree base safe?
nicholas friedman
a 6' diameter flower planter/bench around the base of the tree. I would like to
have the planters dirt come about 2' up the base of the tree, in
contact with the bark. I am wondering if this constant moisture and
possible exposure to pests could harm the tree. Any thoughts would be
very welcome. Thank you.
JoeR
Richard Campbell
You shouldn't lay any dirt on top of the root zone of a tree. This changes
the tree roots location in relation to the soil surface. Most of the trees
feeder roots are close to the surface of the soil, adding dirt on top can
deprive the roots of necessary air and moisture. Even adding a few
inches of dirt on top of a trees root zone can cause damage or even cause the tree
to die. And even though the root zone on this tree extends well beyond the 6 foot
diameter extents of your planter I wouldn't take the chance of harming this large tree.
Instead why don't you build the bench/planter completely enclosed, a sort of doughnut
shape with a bottom, and raise it up on short legs. Much more work but better
that than losing your tree.
--
Rich Campbell, zone 7 (near Dallas)
nicholas friedman
structure similar to yours, with an open bottom, or using plastic
sheeting to isolate the tree bark from the planter dirt.
JoeR
Richard Campbell
DON'T bury the roots of your tree even using a plastic sheet. This would be worse on the tree
than piling dirt up against the trunk. The roots need air and moisture and burying them this way will
deprive them of that. Whether it would kill a tree the size of yours I can't say but I wouldn't take that
chance. If you want a planter build a raised planter around the tree that sits 3-4 inches off of the
ground and has it's own bottom to hold the dirt inside the planter and off of the ground. The roots
of your tree have established themselves at the depth in the soil they prefer, burying them (esp. with
a foot or more of soil) will change that drastically and will affect their ability to intake air and water.
Susan Sanders
ri...@phantom.pac.sc.ti.com writes:
> Instead why don't you build the bench/planter completely enclosed, a
sort of doughnut
>shape with a bottom, and raise it up on short legs. Much more work but
better
>that than losing your tree.
I agree with the advice above. The point of raising it up is so that air
can enter the soil and thereby the roots; putting plastic down wouldn't
accomplish that, either between the existing soil and the planter soil or
between the planter soil and the bark. There should be an air gap at
both locations. -Sue Sanders
or...@skydivskylit.dseg.ti.com
--
I have a similar question. I have a red oak that was planted 4 yrs ago and
has a trunk diameter of about 9-10". It's doing quite well but I have a
few problems:
1) the foliage is so dense that the bermuda will no longer grow under the tree
2) the dog keeps digging a nesting hole at the base of the tree
3) the dirt is very hard around the tree
What I planned on doing is adding a planter box around the base of the tree
then adding 1-2" of good dirt to fill up the dog hole and to give me enough
dirt that is diggable to plant a little ground cover. I basically want:
1) dog to leave tree alone
2) make it easier to mow/edge around
3) make a place to sit in shade
4) get something to grow on that ground
Will the 1-2" of dirt with 1" of bark mulch harm the tree?
Regards, Bonnie
Mama to Bobby 9/5/91 and Aunt Bonnie to Hayden 3/7/95
*******************************************************************
Email: or...@lobby.ti.com
Richard Campbell
|>
|> --
|> I have a similar question. I have a red oak that was planted 4 yrs ago and
|> has a trunk diameter of about 9-10". It's doing quite well but I have a
|> few problems:
|>
|> 1) the foliage is so dense that the bermuda will no longer grow under the tree
|> 2) the dog keeps digging a nesting hole at the base of the tree
|> 3) the dirt is very hard around the tree
|>
|> What I planned on doing is adding a planter box around the base of the tree
|> then adding 1-2" of good dirt to fill up the dog hole and to give me enough
|> dirt that is diggable to plant a little ground cover. I basically want:
|> 1) dog to leave tree alone
|> 2) make it easier to mow/edge around
|> 3) make a place to sit in shade
|> 4) get something to grow on that ground
|>
|> Will the 1-2" of dirt with 1" of bark mulch harm the tree?
I doubt that you would have any problems with the tree adding only 1-2
inches of dirt, just be careful, you might want to talk to a arborist just to be
on the safe side. There's no set rule, but I've heard of people killing their
trees by adding as little as 4-6 inches, that's really not much. It sounded
like the original poster wanted to add a fairly deep layer over the roots (I
was assuming 6"-15" since he wanted a planter) and I'm sure you don't want
to do that.
As far as adding the bark mulch there's no problem. It doesn't inhibit water
or air from reaching the soil and being absorbed by the roots.
Phil Graham
>From: nfr...@bsd.meddean.luc.edu (nicholas friedman)
>Subject: Planter around tree base safe?
>Date: 12 Apr 1995 15:02:49 GMT
In addition to all the comments about the danger to the tree in raising the
grade, having the dirt directly against the bark (or even separated by
plastic) is a sure way to introduce rot to the root crown area. All parts of
the tree need air.
killand
>What I planned on doing is adding a planter box around the base of the tree
>then adding 1-2" of good dirt to fill up the dog hole and to give me enough
>dirt that is diggable to plant a little ground cover. I basically want:
>1) dog to leave tree alone
>2) make it easier to mow/edge around
>3) make a place to sit in shade
>4) get something to grow on that ground
>
>Will the 1-2" of dirt with 1" of bark mulch harm the tree?
Hi and I presume that you are talking inches with < " > in which case
no problem. But if we are talking feet <'> there is a problem.
You have not menrioned how large the plante/bench will be.
My thoughts are that, if the planter is less than half the radius of
the oak Canopy you should be ok. The feeder roots are at the edges
of the of the foliage and a bit beyond.
With all trees, there is as much under the ground as the is leaf area
above ground. Then you can plan the specifications and dimensions of
the project.
Should we be talking feet instead of inches, get back to me as there are
special requirements that must be in place prior to construction.
Derryl Killan
JOurneyman Landscape Gardener, Alberta.
nicholas friedman
In article <3mgq2p$k...@apollo.it.luc.edu>, nfr...@bsd.meddean.luc.edu (nicholas friedman) says:
>
>I have a 3' diameter oak tree in my yard and I am considering building
>a 6' diameter flower planter/bench around the base of the tree. I would like to
>have the planters dirt come about 2' up the base of the tree, in
>contact with the bark. I am wondering if this constant moisture and
>possible exposure to pests could harm the tree. Any thoughts would be
>very welcome. Thank you.
>JoeR
I thank everyone for their responses. To clear a few items up, The planter
I was planning was to surround the base of the tree, to a height of about
1 to 2 FEET. The plastic was to seperate the tree TRUNK (BARK) from the
planter soil. The bottom of the planter would be open, meaning the soil
of the planter would sit directly on top of the existing soil. The planter
diameter would be about 6 feet in diameter, around the 3 foot tree.
I look forward to your thoughts.
JoeR
kl...@cobra.uni.edu
>
> I thank everyone for their responses. To clear a few items up, The planter
> I was planning was to surround the base of the tree, to a height of about
> 1 to 2 FEET. The plastic was to seperate the tree TRUNK (BARK) from the
> planter soil. The bottom of the planter would be open, meaning the soil
> of the planter would sit directly on top of the existing soil. The planter
> diameter would be about 6 feet in diameter, around the 3 foot tree.
Joe, if you proceed as planned, you may as well skip building the planter
and just have the tree removed now, because you'll be having it removed
in a few years when it dies. The issue is not the soil against the
trunk of the tree, but the amount of soil you want to put over the
roots. Oaks are notoriously picky about root disturbance and changes
in soil level (particularly adding more than an inch or so of soil).
They absolutely require air (oxygen) which percolates down to the
roots through the soil. Adding that much soil will smother the roots,
killing the tree.
Possible modifications that might work: Building a similar planter, but
having it raised on legs 2-3", so that air can freely circulate under
the planter. Covering the bare soil (I presume this is your objection)
with a thin layer of mulch, or using a plant that will tolerate dry
shade in your climate. Building a sitting bench around the tree, and
using pots of annuals to add color and interest. Using a mulch ground
cover, and big pots of annuals for color and interest.
Best wishes on figuring out a better solution for your problem.
Kay Klier kl...@cobra.uni.edu
Bob Mason
.