landscaping project

[banditbooker]

hey guys, just thought i'd share some pics on my current project around the house. i rented a mini excavator to dig around the house to lay in some mulch. i also dug up my my side walk to put in a new one. earlier in the spring, when i dug out to put in my driveway i piled the dirt around the big tree with intentions of making a raised patio for my grill and a table and chairs. now here we are half way through the summer and i finally saved enough to get started on it. thats good because i'm getting tired of looking at all the dirt! right where everything looks like it comes to a hault is because that is where the steps to the patio and the two walks will all intersect and underneath that concrete slab is an old hand dug well about 28 feet deep. i have plans for that as well. (no pun intended) :laughing: (see one "hole" of a project - Page 3 - TractorByNet.com) anyway, i hope you enjoy the pictures and feel free to comment or criticize, i'm always looking for new ideas. one concern i do have is the foot and a half of dirt i put around the tree. i was told that it could possibly kill it but then i heard others say it will be alright. any tree experts out there have an opinion on this?

 

[Western]

Nice clean looking job!! Thanks for the photos too.

That is allot of work and I'm glad it was you not me

Sad thing is I also have some of that type of work on the back burner.

 

[mscheer772]

I'm no expert, but my neighbor did the same thing and killed the tree.

 

[dave1949]

Nice work! I like the retaining wall around the tree.

If the original grade was at the level outside that wall, and sloped up gently to the tree trunks, you may be pushing your luck there a bit. Building up around a tree like that all at once will often kill them, but not always. I don't know if some tree species are less susceptible. You will know next summer if it is dying or not. A big tree like that has roots that go out a long ways, those roots may keep it going while the others closer in to the trunk adjust to the new soil depth.

My only suggestion would be to remove most of the raised dirt now, leave your wall in place though, and build it up slowly over a 4-5 year period.

Or, wait and see what happens, if it dies, plant a new tree and make firewood.

Dave.

 

[ducks13]

I've got a big hickory tree that was killed by less dirt that that. The beech trees seem to survive it fairly well and the dogwoods. I think your tree is a goner if you don't remove the dirt. As I understand it the roots that are close to the surface take in oxygen, you cover them with dirt and they suffocate. Thanks for posting the pics of your project.

 

[AchingBack]

In addition to the dirt piled around the trunk, driving over the roots will be a sure slow death.

 

[Dog Lover]

Really nice looking wall you built around the tree. That and the walk look great. It really changes the look of the whole property. Way to go.:thumbsup:

 

[banditbooker]

thanks for all the comments guys, except for you guys tell ing me i'm killing my tree, not what i wanted to hear. haha just kidding. any idea how long until i find out if its gonna make it? that was one of the reasons why i'm doing this is because i wanted to hide the roots. guess they come to the surface for a reason? the tree is in bad shape i think. the previous owners actually have all the main trunks cabled to each other because the tree is splitting near the bottom. all the cables but snapped some time ago. they also have a big bolt holding a cracked branch together. its a shame if its gonna have to come down because it is such a nice shade tree.

 

[Western]

Sounds like the tree is doomed anyway the way you describe it. I think I'd be looking at removal, just in the off chance it finally gives and someone, or something gets damaged.

I'd remove it and find one or 2 replacements depending on type of bush/tree you like.

 

[dave1949]

thanks for all the comments guys, except for you guys tell ing me i'm killing my tree, not what i wanted to hear. haha just kidding. any idea how long until i find out if its gonna make it? that was one of the reasons why i'm doing this is because i wanted to hide the roots. guess they come to the surface for a reason? the tree is in bad shape i think. the previous owners actually have all the main trunks cabled to each other because the tree is splitting near the bottom. all the cables but snapped some time ago. they also have a big bolt holding a cracked branch together. its a shame if its gonna have to come down because it is such a nice shade tree.

Well, I didn't want to come right out and say it either, but I would remove the tree too. If it was cabled already and those broke, it's not a good sign. It is old, weakened and near your buildings, although from the pics it looks like it isn't aimed directly at anything lean-wise.

If you do remove it, it will be hard removing the stump without messing up that nice new wall. Could be a good spot for a large container plant or three sitting on the stumps. Or leave the trunks sticking up 6'-8' feet above the ground and do something artful with those. Bird feeders/houses, hanging flower pot baskets or what not.

I wonder if a new tree would eventually mess with the wall, but I think it would take many years for the roots to reach that far.
Dave.