Beech Tree?

[Ed Roland]

We agree that the soil is what needs treatment here. We just disagree on how to go about it.

 

[S Mc]

So kc is thinking of enlarging the mulch area into the turf area. And we are discussing the best, least invasive way to do this. With the reassurance from personal experience (Urban Forester) on use of glyphosate in the vicinity of beech roots (remembering you need to look at every species individually, oaks are very different from beech), I am not opposed to that method and it may very well be the least invasive. Especially compared to a machine (is this where the sod cutter came in?).

If the main problem is compaction, then getting side tracked on adding amendments clouds the issue. Many times the microbial life does not need to be "fed", it needs to be left alone to flourish and do its job. It does need oxygen.

How far is it from the base of the trees to the house? How wide is the combined crown(s) of these trees? What percentage of roots were compacted? And how much is another 5 ft (times running length of area) going to amend? You are going to want to aerate basically the entire turf area as well.

Aeration is a temporary fix. It is never as good as preventing the compaction in the first place. However, it may help and is worth the effort for at least an attempt at saving these wonderful trees.

Sylvia