[CANUFNET] exposed pounded root zones

[Rhea Dawn Mahar]

Dear Canufnet:

I am seeking solutions to conserving mature trees that are in high foot traffic zones where the roots are becoming exposed above ground.  

Several years ago I built "cribs" out of logs over roots of white spruce trees near a playground where the children were loving the trees to death. They were tripping over the exposed roots that evolved from pairs of pounding little feet over the years. I then filled the cribs with soil and planted understory plants in them. That was seven years ago and a recent visit found the trees were very much alive and healthy and the students walked between these large cribs and also benefited from the seating created.

I am up against a similar situation and would like to implement the same solution, yet the school principal is being told by some source and is adamant that there is nothing you can do about the exposed roots and that my suggestion would kill the trees by rotting the roots.

Could one install cribs--for seating and to contain a mulch? Or could one use my previous technique of building cribs to fill with soil and understory plant? I am seeking voices of experience with credentials--canufnet!--for advice.

Regards,
Rhea Dawn Mahar

_______________________

Rhea Dawn Mahar
School Ground Greening Consultant
Evergreen
tel:  (902) 424-3107
fax:  (902) 424-0732
Email:  maharrd at gov.ns.ca

PO Box 481 CRO
Halifax, Nova Scotia  
Canada B3J 2R7

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