[CANUFNET] exposed pounded root zones (bruno at treecanada.ca)

Fri Oct 9 14:04:01 EDT 2009

Hi Rhea,
Thanks for sharing this interesting experience with the network. I would only add to be careful when doing such cribs to not change the soil level at the base of the trunk. If the roots can resist being in constant humid soil, it's not the case for the stem bark, at least for certain species. I've seen a mature and healthy white spruce dying within a year because of a 2'' soil level change, and then, an ash tree because their owner filled up a 1 foot tall crib around it. Buried bark had decayed in both cases, interrupting sap flow down the phloem (apparently).

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Bruno Chicoine
Project Manager
Tree Canada
613.567.5545 x.225

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Today's Topics:

  1. exposed pounded root zones (Rhea Dawn Mahar)
  2. Re: exposed pounded root zones (jtree at e-aurora.ca)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:47:44 -0300
From: "Rhea Dawn Mahar" <maharrd at gov.ns.ca>
Subject: [CANUFNET] exposed pounded root zones
To: <canufnet at list.web.net>
Message-ID: <4ACCB8230200004C0004905F at fs40.nws.gov.ns.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

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

This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the Sender and delete all copies of this email. Please note that any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Evergreen. The recipient should check this email and any attachments for the presence of viruses. Evergreen accepts no liability for any damage caused by any virus transmitted by this email.

------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 2009 15:35:00 -0400
From: <jtree at e-aurora.ca>
Subject: Re: [CANUFNET] exposed pounded root zones
To: <canufnet at list.web.net>
Message-ID:
    <0F550A29E5780E4FBB5032DA0F64ED030135C1AC at moscow.AURORA.LOCAL>
Content-Type: text/plain;    charset="us-ascii"

We here in Aurora On. experienced exactly the same problem in one of our
parks in close proximity to a public school  , Our simple solution was
to apply a generous  covering of well composted wood chip mulch over the
exposed roots , once the mulch consolidates it stays put and works well
to provide a supple cushioning effect over the roots as well as a host
of other positive side effects  , the only thing we found is that it
requires topping up on occasion , The trees , all Sugar maple ,have
never looked better.  
Hope this helps
Jim Tree
Manager of Parks 
-----Original Message-----
From: canufnet-bounces at list.web.net
[mailto:canufnet-bounces at list.web.net] On Behalf Of Rhea Dawn Mahar
Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 2009 2:48 PM
To: canufnet at list.web.net
Subject: [CANUFNET] exposed pounded root zones

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

This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are
addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the
Sender and delete all copies of this email. Please note that any views
or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and
do not necessarily represent those of Evergreen. The recipient should
check this email and any attachments for the presence of viruses.
Evergreen accepts no liability for any damage caused by any virus
transmitted by this email.

End of CANUFNET Digest, Vol 59, Issue 6
***************************************

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