retaining wall around a mature tree

brad · 2nd August 2009, 02:35 AM

If I were to build a retaining wall around a mature maple tree can I backfill with top soil without killing the tree? wanted to plant annual flowers inside the ring but I don't want to loose a tree. the tree is eight foot around, the ring would be twenty five feet around and probably three four inch retaining blocks high. the soil that is there now slopes up the trunk of the tree making it difficult to keep neat and clean.

Eric Frei · 2nd August 2009, 08:25 AM

Not the best to do it but it depends on the soil you put in there and definately keep the immediate trunk area clear for say 6".

Make sure you hand dig those holes and avoid roots, if the fill is no more than 4" with say a decent sand content then you might get away with it.

Protecting Trees From Construction Damage: A Homeowner's Guide

brad · 2nd August 2009, 10:51 AM

so basically with good black topsoil you cannot cover a root no more than four inches? what about mulch? again it will probably be 9 to ten inches of it.

Garry Brockley · 2nd August 2009, 12:02 PM

no what he's saying is don't put the soil too close to the tree base or against the trunk, this will suffocate and kill the tree. also dont cut any roots when you build the wall this could kill or introduce infection into the tree depending on how far from the tree you cut and how large the roots are.

stirmantrees · 2nd August 2009, 12:33 PM

can we get some pics?

Eric Frei · 2nd August 2009, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brad

so basically with good black topsoil you cannot cover a root no more than four inches? what about mulch? again it will probably be 9 to ten inches of it.

9" to 10" of mulch?

Try 2" of coarse mulch.

Can you get a good black topsoil with coarse sand in it? Get it blended?

brad · 3rd August 2009, 02:55 AM

I tried to upload pics of the tree but they are the wrong size and i don't know how to resize manually.

brad · 3rd August 2009, 07:04 AM

i don't see why I couldn't blend sand with a good topsoil. would it be ok to fill mostly with sand then a two inch layer of topsoil blended with sand. from the trunk of the tree to the retaining wall it is about two feet. i would like to fill up the side of the retaining wall about 9-10 inches to the ground. the ground does slope upward to the tree trunk. could i then put mulch around the trunk of the tree so there isn't a six inch gap between the soil and the trunk? I really don't want to tear down a retaining wall that i just built but I also don't want to kill a good shade tree in my backyard.

Eric Frei · 3rd August 2009, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brad

I tried to upload pics of the tree but they are the wrong size and i don't know how to resize manually.

How to resize pictures, EASY! | Click here before posting a picture.

Quote:

Originally Posted by brad

from the trunk of the tree to the retaining wall it is about two feet. i would like to fill up the side of the retaining wall about 9-10 inches to the ground. the ground does slope upward to the tree trunk. could i then put mulch around the trunk of the tree so there isn't a six inch gap between the soil and the trunk? I really don't want to tear down a retaining wall that i just built but I also don't want to kill a good shade tree in my backyard.

Read the document provided, regarding building before researching .....

stirmantrees · 3rd August 2009, 11:46 AM

Its not looking good.

brad · 3rd August 2009, 12:42 PM

here is what i got. what can i do with it without killing the tree?

Eric Frei · 3rd August 2009, 06:28 PM

Playing with fire mate!

You are buggerizing around at the most important and vulnerable part of the tree, if this were one of my job sites I'd be ripping it all up and scolding you!

How did you set those blocks in the soil? Did you dig out? If so How deep? Did you cement? Is there a foundation?

Sean Freeman · 3rd August 2009, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Playing with fire mate! You are buggerizing around at the most important and vulnerable part of the tree, if this were one of my job sites I'd be ripping it all up and scolding you!

+1

If you really want to have annuals growing so close to the stem why not try something like this......

brad · 4th August 2009, 01:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ekka

Playing with fire mate!

You are buggerizing around at the most important and vulnerable part of the tree, if this were one of my job sites I'd be ripping it all up and scolding you!

How did you set those blocks in the soil? Did you dig out? If so How deep? Did you cement? Is there a foundation?

the yard is uneven around the tree half i dug down a few inches (NOT CUTTING ANY ROOTS) the other half was level with the ground, used leveling sand. So your advice is to rip it all up. then what would you do after?

Garry Brockley · 4th August 2009, 06:36 AM

have you considered just covering the area with soil and planting directly into the ground no wall required?

Eric Frei · 4th August 2009, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brad

the yard is uneven around the tree half i dug down a few inches (NOT CUTTING ANY ROOTS) the other half was level with the ground, used leveling sand. So your advice is to rip it all up. then what would you do after?

Have a beer and BBQ of course.

Seriously, Sean gave some ideas. Mulch doesn't care if the ground is uneven.

2nd August 2009, 02:35 AM	#1
brad Sappling Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: michigan Posts: 6	retaining wall around a mature tree If I were to build a retaining wall around a mature maple tree can I backfill with top soil without killing the tree? wanted to plant annual flowers inside the ring but I don't want to loose a tree. the tree is eight foot around, the ring would be twenty five feet around and probably three four inch retaining blocks high. the soil that is there now slopes up the trunk of the tree making it difficult to keep neat and clean.

2nd August 2009, 08:25 AM	#2
Eric Frei Admin - Owner Palm & Tree Services in Brisbane Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,993	Re: retaining wall around a mature tree Not the best to do it but it depends on the soil you put in there and definately keep the immediate trunk area clear for say 6". Make sure you hand dig those holes and avoid roots, if the fill is no more than 4" with say a decent sand content then you might get away with it. Protecting Trees From Construction Damage: A Homeowner's Guide __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Palm and Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

2nd August 2009, 10:51 AM	#3
brad Sappling Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: michigan Posts: 6	Re: retaining wall around a mature tree so basically with good black topsoil you cannot cover a root no more than four inches? what about mulch? again it will probably be 9 to ten inches of it.

2nd August 2009, 12:02 PM	#4
Garry Brockley Bayside Tree Care Brisbane Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Brisbane Aus Posts: 1,641	Re: retaining wall around a mature tree no what he's saying is don't put the soil too close to the tree base or against the trunk, this will suffocate and kill the tree. also dont cut any roots when you build the wall this could kill or introduce infection into the tree depending on how far from the tree you cut and how large the roots are. __________________ My business:- Brisbane Bayside Tree Care

2nd August 2009, 12:33 PM	#5
stirmantrees Mature tree Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: oviedo, fl Posts: 469	Re: retaining wall around a mature tree can we get some pics?

3rd August 2009, 02:55 AM	#7
brad Sappling Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: michigan Posts: 6	Re: retaining wall around a mature tree I tried to upload pics of the tree but they are the wrong size and i don't know how to resize manually.

3rd August 2009, 07:04 AM	#8
brad Sappling Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: michigan Posts: 6	Re: retaining wall around a mature tree i don't see why I couldn't blend sand with a good topsoil. would it be ok to fill mostly with sand then a two inch layer of topsoil blended with sand. from the trunk of the tree to the retaining wall it is about two feet. i would like to fill up the side of the retaining wall about 9-10 inches to the ground. the ground does slope upward to the tree trunk. could i then put mulch around the trunk of the tree so there isn't a six inch gap between the soil and the trunk? I really don't want to tear down a retaining wall that i just built but I also don't want to kill a good shade tree in my backyard.

3rd August 2009, 11:46 AM	#10
stirmantrees Mature tree Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: oviedo, fl Posts: 469	Re: retaining wall around a mature tree Its not looking good.

3rd August 2009, 12:42 PM	#11
brad Sappling Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: michigan Posts: 6	Re: retaining wall around a mature tree here is what i got. what can i do with it without killing the tree? Attached Thumbnails

3rd August 2009, 06:28 PM	#12
Eric Frei Admin - Owner Palm & Tree Services in Brisbane Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,993	Re: retaining wall around a mature tree Playing with fire mate! You are buggerizing around at the most important and vulnerable part of the tree, if this were one of my job sites I'd be ripping it all up and scolding you! How did you set those blocks in the soil? Did you dig out? If so How deep? Did you cement? Is there a foundation? __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Palm and Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

4th August 2009, 06:36 AM	#15
Garry Brockley Bayside Tree Care Brisbane Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Brisbane Aus Posts: 1,641	Re: retaining wall around a mature tree have you considered just covering the area with soil and planting directly into the ground no wall required? __________________ My business:- Brisbane Bayside Tree Care

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