Houston tree planting

[atlantis7]

Originally Posted by Wysiwyg

business area landscapes in most cases i've seen look perfectly healthy to me. at least in MY area. so I do not understand why some people think the professional landscapers are doing something ignorant. people cant even take care of their own lawns out there while biz areas actually have grass in the shaded areas of their healthy trees so I think they are doing something right. probably a trade secret not many know

Believe me, it is not a recommended procedure in any book. I don't know of any tree where it is suggested that the root ball be planted OUT OF or ON TOP OF THE GROUND. The dirt may be bad here but it seems that taking all the excess (good) dirt they put around the tree on the top would be better placed in a deeper hole around the root ball.

Mulching serves a great purpose and does hold in moisture and prevents weeds while some kinds keep away bugs (like Cypress and Eucalyptus). I am assuming that the black mulch so commonly used here is Eucalyptus
but putting three inches or more of mulch along with four to six inches of dirt, around the drunk of a tree is the same as humans standing in water, barefooted 24 hours a day. Your skin would begin to rot --- so does the base of a tree.

This takes time and since it isn't visible, many people think these trees must be healthy.

Did I read where someone said it was DRY here???? CHECK THE HUMIDITY
EVERY ONCE AND AWHILE!

As for lawn services...I agree. They aren't landscapers or master gardeners. They mow grass. I don't hire them. I mow my own. I know more than most about plants, etc and this was contradictory to everything I was ever taught about properly planting trees.

Thanks to all for your input. I am going to try and contact the Galveston county extension service to get something official. If I do, I will report back.

[Supermac34]

99% of the time, what you are seeing is NOT dirt piled up around the base of the tree, its the root ball correctly planted with a few inches exposed. Then, for cosmetic reasons, usually, a light layer of top soil or mulch is spread on top of the root ball. In the heavy clay that most areas of Houston have, this is the best way to plant a tree. The light layer of top soil or mulch protects the top most anchor roots from the sun, and the gradual decomposition helps with nutrition. The area within a few inches of the actual trunk is usually pulled away as well.

[Wysiwyg]

question is do you have any sample of the bad effects? which tree out there is dying from such malpractice? most mature trees in the area will have to grow its roots in the first few inches into the ground because the resistance for root growth is much higher as you go deeper especially with clay(notice all the cracked sidewalks) for all you know these trees were planted correctly when they were younger but just developed root above ground.