614-313-8138
Let's Talk Trees
- 614-313-8138
- - OR -
- 614-313-8139
Ask the tree experts
I have a large oak tree in my back yard. The previous homeowners had a wooden octagonal bench built around the base of the tree and filled in with soil. It’s about 2 feet high. Several years have passed, the oak has grown, and the bench has become dilapidated and must be removed or replaced. If we remove it, and the soil around it which has surrounded the tree for many years, will there be irreparable damage to the tree/bark? Should we remove the bench but leave the soil in place? My husband seems to think the tree would not survive if this soil is removed; that we must build a larger bench and fill it in with more dirt. I would like to get an expert opinion on this before we go to that expense, as the bench has been pretty to look at, but has never been used as a bench by our family.
Melissa,
You are going to want to remove the soil. Piling soil up around the base of a tree can be very damaging to the tree and many times lead to tree death (People often pile mulch up around the base of their tree year after year and this often leads to the tree dying or when new homes are built excavation leads to tree bases being barried which also leads to death). Trees should not look like telephone poles going into the ground, you want to see the roots starting to flair out at the bottom. Tree roots are close to the surface and raising the ground level makes it harder for the tree to get the water and nutrients it needs. Since the tree has survived and grown dispite the soil at the base it probably will continue to be ok with out you removing the soil. This is probably because the soil doesn't spread out to far away from the base which would be worse. That being said I would still suggest removing the soil back to the original depth. I hope this helps!
You are going to want to remove the soil. Piling soil up around the base of a tree can be very damaging to the tree and many times lead to tree death (People often pile mulch up around the base of their tree year after year and this often leads to the tree dying or when new homes are built excavation leads to tree bases being barried which also leads to death). Trees should not look like telephone poles going into the ground, you want to see the roots starting to flair out at the bottom. Tree roots are close to the surface and raising the ground level makes it harder for the tree to get the water and nutrients it needs. Since the tree has survived and grown dispite the soil at the base it probably will continue to be ok with out you removing the soil. This is probably because the soil doesn't spread out to far away from the base which would be worse. That being said I would still suggest removing the soil back to the original depth. I hope this helps!
