[A link to learn why piling dirt around tree trunks is bad. (This article talks about piling mulch around tree trunks, but it’s the same concept](https://bygl.osu.edu/node/1494)
That was one hell of an article. I like how you can tell that the person who wrote it is VERY angry at people who partake in “Tree moating” or “Mulch volcano-ing” 😂
A neighbor of mine did some dirt work and raised the ground level around a few big trees. There’s a few western red cedars, a douglas fir, and a couple big oak trees. He did the work in the fall and They were all dead by the end of the next summer.
~90% of the tree’s root system is within 18 inches of the surface, with the majority of feeder roots less than 12 inches from the surface.
Why? Because the oxygen level in the soil drops with depth. Roots need oxygen. They will be thick with feeder roots close to the surface, and the lower sections of the root system (at a foot or more) will have just a few meandering roots
Occasionally, “sinker roots” follow pockets of air to deeper levels, if there are things like rocks or old animal burrows that allow loose or open sections to persist for some reason.
Spreading 6 or 7 inches of dense soil over the surface may seem like a minor change, but it is enough to cause a lot of feeder roots to be too deep. They are very metabolically active, so reducing the oxygen will cause them to thin out with a lot of dead feeder roots.
Studies have shown that the main shaft of a larger root can sometimes survive soil compaction (although it will lose its feeder roots there) and continue to connect to feeder roots in undisturbed soil further down. That’s something to consider if you are doing a small project like raised beds for vegetables within 50 feet of a tree. But something like this is more clearly harmful and potentially fatal to the trees.
Yup, the city re-worked a small park across the street from my parents place a few years ago which included some very minor regrading, as in adding maybe 10 - 15cm of soil in certain areas. Lo and behold, the next year the mature Norway maples closest to the regrading were all shooting out epicormic sprouts and they're currently in a state of slow decline. I'm no huge fan of Norways but it's still sad to see multiple >80cm dbh trees taken out too early from what is essentially carelessness or a lack of knowledge.
Ok..... Plants have what is called the root collar level, this is the point on tree and plants where the soil level is. It is the defining point between the trunk and the roots. If the soil level is too high then the soil is strangling the tree as it breathes through the bark. Hope that's clear!
it is something to be cautious with. Small changes over long periods of time can be done. That looks to be to a bad situation. Spread th dirt out more and keep the change to under 2 inches of eleveation
Welcome to r/arborists! Help Us Help You: If you have questions about the health of your tree, please see our [Posting Guidelines](https://old.reddit.com/r/arborists/wiki/posting_guidance) wiki page for help with effective posting. **Please answer the questions listed there to the best of your ability.** ***Insufficient pics/info could result in the removal of your post!!*** ([See rule 3](https://www.reddit.com/r/arborists/about/rules).)
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Related question, if dirt is bad, what about largish rocks, grass clippings, mulch?
Can piles of those, that are not as dense as multiple inches of soil, also cause issues?
How far from a tree is it safe to pile dirt? My yard is on a slope and I have an oak that's about 2 stories tall. I'm doing some landscaping and leveling out the yard which involves piling dirt near the oak. If I stay out from under the oak canopy am I good?
A part of my backyard is literally like a forest - a few tall pine trees with a lot of buildup I of pine needs and some leaves over time.
It’s probably a good half foot deep… should I remove it all or most of it?
The addition of soil like this reduces the trees ability to perform gas exchange between the roots and the air. This is due to it changing the macro and micro pores within the soil gradient. This pore space allows for proper drainage and the vital gas exchange at a cellular level.
Yes. Even mulch piled around trunks is no good.
This ruins the already precious bark at the bottom of trees. Very bad
[A link to learn why piling dirt around tree trunks is bad. (This article talks about piling mulch around tree trunks, but it’s the same concept](https://bygl.osu.edu/node/1494)
That was one hell of an article. I like how you can tell that the person who wrote it is VERY angry at people who partake in “Tree moating” or “Mulch volcano-ing” 😂
Yeah exactly lol
A neighbor of mine did some dirt work and raised the ground level around a few big trees. There’s a few western red cedars, a douglas fir, and a couple big oak trees. He did the work in the fall and They were all dead by the end of the next summer.
Yes, and it happens right away.
I’d also be concerned about the weight of equipment used, concerning the root compaction.
Oh my God THE ROOT FLARE!! YOUVE BURIED IT ALIVE!!!
Get out the Air spade, stat!
~90% of the tree’s root system is within 18 inches of the surface, with the majority of feeder roots less than 12 inches from the surface. Why? Because the oxygen level in the soil drops with depth. Roots need oxygen. They will be thick with feeder roots close to the surface, and the lower sections of the root system (at a foot or more) will have just a few meandering roots Occasionally, “sinker roots” follow pockets of air to deeper levels, if there are things like rocks or old animal burrows that allow loose or open sections to persist for some reason. Spreading 6 or 7 inches of dense soil over the surface may seem like a minor change, but it is enough to cause a lot of feeder roots to be too deep. They are very metabolically active, so reducing the oxygen will cause them to thin out with a lot of dead feeder roots. Studies have shown that the main shaft of a larger root can sometimes survive soil compaction (although it will lose its feeder roots there) and continue to connect to feeder roots in undisturbed soil further down. That’s something to consider if you are doing a small project like raised beds for vegetables within 50 feet of a tree. But something like this is more clearly harmful and potentially fatal to the trees.
Yup, the city re-worked a small park across the street from my parents place a few years ago which included some very minor regrading, as in adding maybe 10 - 15cm of soil in certain areas. Lo and behold, the next year the mature Norway maples closest to the regrading were all shooting out epicormic sprouts and they're currently in a state of slow decline. I'm no huge fan of Norways but it's still sad to see multiple >80cm dbh trees taken out too early from what is essentially carelessness or a lack of knowledge.
Ok..... Plants have what is called the root collar level, this is the point on tree and plants where the soil level is. It is the defining point between the trunk and the roots. If the soil level is too high then the soil is strangling the tree as it breathes through the bark. Hope that's clear!
Oh yeah, one of the best ways to kill a tree actually
Yes!
I hope this was an arborist making a sarcastic joke
it is something to be cautious with. Small changes over long periods of time can be done. That looks to be to a bad situation. Spread th dirt out more and keep the change to under 2 inches of eleveation
Welcome to r/arborists! Help Us Help You: If you have questions about the health of your tree, please see our [Posting Guidelines](https://old.reddit.com/r/arborists/wiki/posting_guidance) wiki page for help with effective posting. **Please answer the questions listed there to the best of your ability.** ***Insufficient pics/info could result in the removal of your post!!*** ([See rule 3](https://www.reddit.com/r/arborists/about/rules).) Visit the main wiki page for [Critical Planting/Care tips and Common Errors to Avoid](https://old.reddit.com/r/arborists/wiki/index); there's sections on why planting depth/root flare exposure is so vital, along with sections on proper mulching, watering, pruning and more that I hope will be useful to you. If you're posting about a tree ID (not permitted here; [see rule 1](https://www.reddit.com/r/arborists/about/rules)), see that wiki page for other subs and smartphone apps to try. Here is how you can arrange a [consult with a local ISA arborist in your area](http://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist/findanarborist) (NOT a 'tree company guy' unless they're ISA certified) or a [consulting arborist](https://www.asca-consultants.org/search/custom.asp?id=3818) for an on-site evaluation. A competent arborist should be happy to walk you through how to care for the trees on your property and answer any questions. If you're in the U.S. or Canada, your Extension (or master gardener provincial program) may have a list of local recommended arborists on file. If you're in the U.S., you should also consider searching for arborist associations under your state. If you are one of our regulars and/or you work in the industry and do not want this message in your future posts, please pick an appropriate user flair (options available in the sub sidebar on PC, and on moble if using a browser). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/arborists) if you have any questions or concerns.*
injury is happening each month starting from when the soil was piled there
Very dangerous to the trees. It’s choking them off from air and water. Plus it makes a breading ground for bacteria and fungi to attack the plant.
Absolutely
Don't do it .. do you want to know why?
Yes.... I do... Something about letting air to the roots.... What's the deats on this?
Desire to learn more intensifies.
Related question, if dirt is bad, what about largish rocks, grass clippings, mulch? Can piles of those, that are not as dense as multiple inches of soil, also cause issues?
How far from a tree is it safe to pile dirt? My yard is on a slope and I have an oak that's about 2 stories tall. I'm doing some landscaping and leveling out the yard which involves piling dirt near the oak. If I stay out from under the oak canopy am I good?
A part of my backyard is literally like a forest - a few tall pine trees with a lot of buildup I of pine needs and some leaves over time. It’s probably a good half foot deep… should I remove it all or most of it?
Yes. Roots need oxygen.
Yes. Especially red oaks. They are very sensitive to root disturbance. Not saying these are.. just an example.
It’s not so much the dirt, it’s the moisture that the dirt traps against the trunk.
Yes. It will kill them
The addition of soil like this reduces the trees ability to perform gas exchange between the roots and the air. This is due to it changing the macro and micro pores within the soil gradient. This pore space allows for proper drainage and the vital gas exchange at a cellular level.
Yes, they drown in soil.
1-2 seasons and it's dead
Nope, trees love dirt. And Brawndo!
But Brawndo's got what plants crave. It's got electrolytes.
Yes. Possible suffocation.