Does Adding Dirt around a tree kill it?????

[LD1]

Prepping to have a pond dug. I have a couple of trees where we are going to pile most of the dirt that I would prefer not to take out, but if I have to....so be it.

They are 6-12" diameter elm and ash trees. I know...they are both doomed anyway with the bug and dutch-elm-disease.:confused2:

The question is...would building up ~3' of dirt around these trees kill them. I think I already know the answer but though I'd ask.

 

[smstonypoint]

The question is...would building up ~3' of dirt around these trees kill them. I think I already know the answer but though I'd ask.

I agree if you think the answer is "Yes."

Steve

 

[greasemonkeyok]

YES. It smothers the roots and although it may not happen right away, it will kill the tree in a few short years. If you have to you can add dirt slowly, over a period of years, which allows the roots to adjust.

Covering Tree Roots - Plant and Pest Diagnostic Laboratory, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA

You could also build a wall around the trees about the size of the above-ground foliage, and store the dirt outside the wall.

 

[LD1]

I think I will just cut them out then.

 

[missingstexas]

I was told by our 'Tree Expert' (he has a master's degree in Urban Forestry from LSU for what it's worth), that you can safely add up to 3" of dirt per tree (we were talking Live Oaks) if you don't compact it too much. He recommended a thin layer of mulch and then dirt over the top or using an aerator once the dirt is spread. I have about 20 or so 40yr+ old live oaks that needed quite a bit of attention when we bought our place and he came out and charged me WAY too much money to trim a few of them, and I watched a learned and did the rest myself.

 

[Dr_Zinj]

Deader than a door nail, or injured enough that you have to take them out anyway.

I had several nice oaks and maples near where we sited the house. After landscaping, several trees had as much as 2 feet of soil piled on top of the pre-existing slope. Killed the oaks outright, and severly top damaged the maples, which are a bit more forgiving of insults but still took 10 years to recover.

 

[Pilot]

Depends a lot on the species; some can tolerate it, some can not. I can't tell you about your trees specifically, but I suspect the ones that tolerate it are those that often grow in flood plains where floods deposit a lot of soil once in awhile.

My suggestion is take them out now. It will be easier to pile the dirt without them in the way, you won't have any concern about damage to them from the machine work and if you expect pathogens to take them out they will be more likely to attack them when they are stressed from dirt being piled over their roots.

 

[LD1]

Trees have been removed. Thanks for the replys guys:thumbsup:

 

[creekbend]

Trees have been removed. Thanks for the replys guys:thumbsup:

Best wishes in regards to your pond.

 

[LD1]

Best wishes in regards to your pond.

Thanks. I will keep everyone updated with pics and stuff once we get started:thumbsup: