AboutJim Hyland Expertise Registered Forester in the Southern US with 30 years experiance in managing pines. Expert in pine forest health from management to control of pests to ID of species.
Question I WOULD LIKE TO RAISE THE LEVEL OF DIRT AROUND SOME PINE TREES IN MY YARD, BUT WANT TO KNOW IF IT WILL HARM THE TREES. I'M AT ABOUT 7000 FOOT IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MOUNTAINS. THANKS TIM
Answer Adding soil is generally not a good idea. Most people are surprised to learn that 90 percent of the fine roots that absorb water and minerals are in the upper 6 to 12 inches of soil. Roots require space, air, and water. Roots grow best where these requirements are met, which is usually near the soil surface. Piling soil over the root system or increasing the grade smothers the roots. It takes only a few inches of added soil to kill a sensitive mature tree.
If you add more than a couple of inches you risk the chance of killing the tree.
