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Re: [PRIMROSES] PUTTING YOUR TREE TO BED/COLUMBUS/NEW YEAR

Cindy,

You can add 2 to 3 inches of humus every year with no trouble. Soil level
changes cause the most trouble. Sometimes people damage tree roots with
roto-tillers when preparing new beds. It is best not to disturb the roots,
just put down mulch or spray grass with roundup before mulching.

Your perennials most likely will not out compete your trees for water and
nutrients. Sometimes large changes in the amount of water the tree receives
can limit oxygen in the root zone causing root damage and root rot.

Many trees can take a lot of stress with any problems.

Soil and mulch around  the tree trunk can cause decay as someone suggested
earlier.

Try not to let water stand or freeze in the wells around your trees.

 90% of your trees roots are in the top 3 feet of soil. Tree roots extend
way beyond the drip line of the tree.

Using stakes to support young trees causes tall growth, thinner trunks and
a reduction in support root growth. Remove support as soon as practical.

Use of fungicides can kill the mycorrhizae associated with the trees roots.

Most  trees grow best in groups with lots of leaf litter and undisturbed
roots. Like in a forest.

Dan
Zone 7
----------
> From: Cidjohnson <Cidjohnson@AOL.COM>
> To: PRIMROSES@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
> Subject: Re: [PRIMROSES] PUTTING YOUR TREE TO BED/COLUMBUS/NEW YEAR
> Date: Thursday, January 01, 1998 11:31 AM
>
> In a message dated 98-01-01 04:26:07 EST, you write:
>
> << By changing the grade over a period of years you allow the tree roots
to
>  grow upward into soil with plenty of air. Of course these roots will
also
>  compete with the plants you want to grow.
>   >>
>
> Dan,
>
> Thanks for your reply.  On a similar note, can thickly planted perennials
take
> too much  water, nutrients, and ozygen away from Oaks so that initially
the
> oaks would be stressed (and susceptible to Oak Wilt)?  In the last 2-3
years,
> I have replaced thin Kentucky Blue Grass with many woodland perennials
under
> my oaks.  I haven't added dirt but have added an inch or two of humus.
Maybe
> the roots have had a chance to grow upward by now.
>
> Cindy Johnson
> White Bear Lake, MN
> zone 4a
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