Re: Planting around old trees after glyphosate

**"* F* <f*@rogers.com>**

Sheri Ann,

I don't know about how long one should wait before the Round-up has been sprayed to safely plant; perhaps someone else has the answer to that.  Personally, I would wait a full season.  

In regard to the legality, I would just talk to her and ask her to stop since you will be making a garden around the tree.

I do know that creating a raised bed around the trunk and root zone of trees is not a good idea, according to what I've been taught.  Not only does it compromise the trunk (think moisture promoting rot, and a place for chewing critters to safely hide), but it suffocates the delicate feeder roots, making them struggle for oxygen and potentially eventually killing the tree.

If it were me, I would top-dress and amend the soil around the tree trunk with an inch or two of compost and then mass plant Geranium macrorrhizum (IMO one of the best perennials when you require shallow rooting and dry shade tolerance).

Ailsa Francis
Gardening columnist, Ottawa Citizen newspaper
Horticulturist, garden writer and blogger
www.hortus2.wordpress.com
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