Open AccessReplacing Soil in the Root Zone of Mature Trees for Better Growth
Author(s) -
Gary Watson,
Patrick Kelsey,
Klaus Woodtli
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
arboriculture and urban forestry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.222
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 2155-0778
pISSN - 1935-5297
DOI - 10.48044/jauf.1996.025
Subject(s) - tilia , mulch , dns root zone , soil water , environmental science , root system , biology , agronomy , botany , soil science , pollen
Soils were replaced in various patterns within the root zone of mature landscape trees as an alternative to surface mulching. Care was taken to minimize the damage to the root systems, through careful positioning of the excavations, or use of hydraulic excavation procedures. Tree roots grew better in the new soil mixes than in the original site soil, exhibiting up to a 320% increase in fine root density and up to a 68% increase in rooting depth. Declining annual growth rate trends were reversed by the treatment in Tilia and Platanus. Soil replacement has potential as another useful tool for treating declining trees.