Posted by Lawn Guy on February 17, 2010, 9:52 pm
Eggs Zachtly wrote:
> > Unlikely. I've got several large maples (silver and sugar) and
> > the only surface roots I see are large and woody and would easily
> > be burried for years if I covered them with an inch or two of
>> topsoil.
>
> And you'd shorten the trees lifespan, in the process. Those roots
> are there, at that depth, for a reason. That's where the water,
> nutrients, and more importantly, oxygen is located.
I have seen many species of trees in urban settings that are surrounded
by paving almost up to their trunk and they grow very large and appear
very healthy.
Paving like that is not something I would ever do or recommend, but it's
clear evidence that the idea of adding a few additional inches of
topsoil under trees will have ZERO effect on oxygen availability to the
roots, and a healthy layer of turf grass under a tree will probably do
more for water retention and keeping the soil moist and cool in the
middle of summer vs having bare soil.
Posted by Lancillotto del lago on February 17, 2010, 5:29 pm
I don't know very much those issues about maples, but I think the roots
generally develop upwards in asfictics soils where not enough air close
to the roots prevent them to absorb mineral elements (the mineral
absorptions requires chemical energy produced only
if there is enough air close to the roots). In other case the roots go
upwards. This phenomenon is very common in plants growing in town
streets under pavements.
I think if you have enough organic rotting matter on the ground below
the tree, the soil mantain more soft and aired and only thin roots will
emerge over the soil.
Besides you can grow your lawn early before maple leafs are so wide to
prevent light reach the soil.
In my country garden there is an hedge maple and their branches ad leafs
don't prevent clover to grow.
Clover give nitrogenum to the maple and let soil water get out through
stomes, so that soil is not so wet to cause maple suffer air scarcity.
Posted by Robert M. on February 16, 2010, 10:46 am
On Feb 14, 3:53 pm, test...@deadiguana.net wrote:
> Having read the "dead grass" thread, I'm afraid I'm in for bad news.
> Writing from SE Michigan, zone 6. The front lawn has a maple tree -
> red maple, I think - at least in the fall the leaves turn red. It
> casts a deep shade, but worse is that the ground around it has lots of
> thin roots. Needless to say, no grass grows there. I was thinking of
> using a slit seeder, thinking that would cut the roots. But, well --
> is there any type of grass that will grow there?
> --
> FUB
Your blog was helpful for my class assignment. Thank you.
Posted by Lawn on February 17, 2010, 9:10 am
"Robert M." wrote:
> > Having read the "dead grass" thread, I'm afraid I'm in for bad
> > news.
>
> Your blog was helpful for my class assignment. Thank you.
You're the second fool to post the same comment.
WTF is the deal with that?
What Blog? This is not a blog.
He posted a question - he described a problem. How is that helpful?
Posted by spnacek on February 16, 2010, 7:38 pm
On Feb 14, 3:53 pm, test...@deadiguana.net wrote:
> Having read the "dead grass" thread, I'm afraid I'm in for bad news.
> Writing from SE Michigan, zone 6. The front lawn has a maple tree -
> red maple, I think - at least in the fall the leaves turn red. It
> casts a deep shade, but worse is that the ground around it has lots of
> thin roots. Needless to say, no grass grows there. I was thinking of
> using a slit seeder, thinking that would cut the roots. But, well --
> is there any type of grass that will grow there?
> --
> FUB
Good luck with your problem.
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> > the only surface roots I see are large and woody and would easily
> > be burried for years if I covered them with an inch or two of
>> topsoil.
>
> And you'd shorten the trees lifespan, in the process. Those roots
> are there, at that depth, for a reason. That's where the water,
> nutrients, and more importantly, oxygen is located.