Can I cover surface roots without harming the tree?
I have a 1950's house with a huge maple tree in the front yard. There are thousands of heavy surface roots (due to poor watering when the tree was young, I think) that nearly fill the entire yard. Barely any grass grows, and that which does can't be cut well because of the ground's lumpiness. I have been told by tree experts that to cover the roots with sod - or with soil and then plant grass over it - will eventually kill the tree through suffocation. Is that so? If it is, how else can I make my front yard look a little less leperous? I did have another maple removed and chipped a few months ago; could I spread the fresh chips from that tree between the big one's surface roots without harming it?
2008-01-12T07:50:43Z
Sorry, I wasn't clear - should have written "tree experts" in quotes since they were the same people who told me that the tree needed a major $$$$ pruning when I knew it didn't; besides, I always gather as many opinions as possible before starting a project I'm not all that knowledgeable about. Thanks for all the answers so far, and looking forward to even more.
meanolmaw2008-01-12T05:27:34Z
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why wouldn't you believe the 'tree experts'??..... yes, a tree will suffocate if you pile too much stuff that's heavy, like soil or sod over the roots...
if you want grass, you need to remove the tree and the roots and start fresh with new soil ....
the ground around those roots has likely sunk, rather than the roots growing so much above the surface... that happens when the organic component of the soil has been used up by the tree... and maples are heavy feeders!!.... if you'd like to keep the tree, begin to replenish that organic matter by spreading a THIN layer of good compost over the area, two inches at the most then some mulch to cover and hold it there.... the plan is for the worms to come and mix the compost with the soil and the mulch will eventually break down, too..... mean time, you can dress up the area with potted plants or planters..... keep the mulch and compost OFF the trunk of the tree and out about six or eight inches from it so that it doesn't hold moisture there and cause rot.... yearly, scrape back the mulch and add more compost as it is used up..... eventually you may find that there are spots between lumps of roots where the soil is deep enuff again that you could plant something there, like hosta or azalea... the big thing, tho, with them being IN the soil is that you'll need to water them... the tree will take it's water first and the plants that are there will suffer without your help....
my hubby bought a three tiered plant stand to go under our cherry tree.... there, I can make a 'showing' of plant in pots that really dress up the area and don't bother my tree.... think on something like that for yours, maybe?.....add the mulch, maybe a path of flagstones or paver, a bench, maybe a tabletop fountain... you'll think of something good, I'll betcha!!!
RE: Can I cover surface roots without harming the tree? I have a 1950's house with a huge maple tree in the front yard. There are thousands of heavy surface roots (due to poor watering when the tree was young, I think) that nearly fill the entire yard. Barely any grass grows, and that which does can't be cut well because of the ground's...
I would think you do have some good answers here, and if experience has the edge, go with that answer. I think that if you cover the bumpy roots with chips from the old maple tree, then cover with 1"-2" of Worm Compost...LOOK ONLINE many places sell it now. May find it locally too. This will give the roots the nutrients it will need to fight back against "suffocation"...of which I have never heard of....Could be my lack of knowledge or a farce...I dont know....However, if you plant a plant in very loose soil and don't pack it and air gets to the roots....it will die.....Air kills the roots..of the plant. How suffocation of the bumpy roots happens...is beyond me. Yes the roots were looking for surface water and nutrients that is why they come to the surface. Poor care in the growth. Deep root watering sends the roots down for the water and not up to the surface, or under the house towards the water pipes or sewer pipes. Trees will find their survival source of water, any way they can. That is why plumbers have to be called out once a year in older homes with established large trees to rotorooter out the pipes...More often than not it is the tree roots.
Go ahead and do the chips, worm compost, soil, tons of water to soak down to the deep roots, and keep it regularly deep watered...you should be able to plant some shadey type grass.....Grass needs the sunlight....so consider that too. Good Luck......
The roots of maples can be covered with mulch or soil 2-3" deep, however, maple roots will soon come up into any soil you put over them, and you will have the same problem all over again. They are to an extent self-weeding (called alleopathy) like black walnuts, and don't like grass to be growing under them.
I have an old one in my yard, with surface roots that prevent my mowing under it. I planted violets under it as a ground cover, which the tree doesn't seem to mind, as they are still alive. I have tried ajuga and hostas, with little success.
Your other option is just to mulch under it with wood chips or bark a couple of inches deep, being sure to keep it away from the trunk where it could cause disease and insect problems. You won't hurt your tree with that amount of mulch.
Sod just won't work, it will gradually die out, as much from the competition from those greedy maple roots as the alleopathy. I would not use fresh chips as their decaying process depletes the nitrogen in the soil. Composted wood chips or bark is better.