Calling all Arborists and Lawn Jockies

[Bowhica]

2 part post........

Background. Just bought a place in Magnolia. Nice mature pines, elms, oaks and sweet gums on the place. Good st. augustine grass with typical sandy loam soils.


Part one:

Surface tree roots. I have a number of places with roots that are noticeably higher than the top of grade. Short of bringing in yards and yards of new topsoil, whats the best option for remedying this without removing the tree or jeopardizing the life of the tree?

Part two:

Burweed. Best way to deal with this crap. I know its to late for this year, but what products will keep this plant from coming back next year!! Are there any ways of limiting its effects for the rest of the year?

Soft tender city feet want to know......

Last of the Bowhicans

[Burnadell]

I don't know anything about Burweed, but I do know it is dangerous to put a lot of soil over the surface roots. It could kill the tree. You might could remove a root every few years, but I would be careful. Check with neal Sperry. He is very wary of covering or removing surface roots from some trees. I have the same problem with live oaks and a large magnolia tree.

[Bowhica]

I don't know anything about Burweed, but I do know it is dangerous to put a lot of soil over the surface roots. It could kill the tree. You might could remove a root every few years, but I would be careful. Check with neal Sperry. He is very wary of covering or removing surface roots from some trees. I have the same problem with live oaks and a large magnolia tree.

Maybe you could swing by, in your quality assurance manager suit and inspect it for me!

[Burnadell]

Post some pictures. My fee would be way too much for me to swing by...unless it's on a day when your wife is home and you're not!

[Burnadell]

If they are pine trees, go ahead and cut them down!

[Bowhica]

Post some pictures. My fee would be way too much for me to swing by...unless it's on a day when your wife is home and you're not!

I'll have some to post in a few. She would have you moving boxes and furniture. but on a good note, her fees are good for restarting your ticker after you pass out for over exertion. Shes a cath lab nurse. Just bring a co-pay.

[Burnadell]

[jerp]

I would not cover the roots with a layer of topsoil - you could very possibly suffocate the tree. Here's what I did on the recommendation of an arborist: Using edging, I made a big circle around the tree 1/2 - 2/3rds of the way out to the drip line then filled in with a few inches of quality mulch. It looks good, it's easy to mow around, and the roots can still breathe through the mulch.

[BrianL]

Part 1. Cover the roots, life is too short to be tripping on those dang things, and can't be worst that hit them with lawnmower blades. If a tree is that wussy, it doesn't deserve to be in the yard!

Part 2. 2 4-d

[kfd82]

I'll have some to post in a few. She would have you moving boxes and furniture. but on a good note, her fees are good for restarting your ticker after you pass out for over exertion. Shes a cath lab nurse. Just bring a co-pay.

Possibly the best reply ever.

[Pstraw]

With Jerp on the edging. Plant some ground cover (honeysuckle, english ivy, monkey grass) to hide the roots.

[Bowhica]

The bald sections are from pine needle accumulation. That will be resolved with lawn care.

[PapaBear]

2-4d on the burweed if it is a broadleaf (don't spray when it's over 90*, you will smoke everything around with 2-4d vapor). Creating a flower bed around your trees to cover the roots with plants or mulch is the best way to deal with them. Depending on the number of roots you can remove them but I wouldn't recommend it.


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[Sackett]

Short answer, the roots are not "coming to the surface", you have an erosion problem. You need to either raise the canopy or thin some trees. Check where your downspouts on the gutters come out (I bet several empty in that barren area) and if so, route them to the ditch.

[Katch66]

First thing that I would do would be to get rid of the pine trees and sweetgum trees. Pines are just looking for a reason to fall on the house and sweetgums are a pain when dealing with all the sweetgum balls. I agree with you having an erosion problem also. I think that you need to haul in some top soil after correcting what is causing the erosion.