How to NOT build a tree pit guard
If you’re one of those admirable people to have made a street guard to protect your street tree, please make sure that you do not raise the soil above ground level in the process. The soil needs to stay at roughly the same level it was when the tree was planted, or the trunk may…
If you’re one of those admirable people to have made a street guard to protect your street tree, please make sure that you do not raise the soil above ground level in the process. The soil needs to stay at roughly the same level it was when the tree was planted, or the trunk may rot over time. Elevated soil levels also stop water from penetrating the root system.
Here are a couple of online guards for good street pits.
http://www.treesny.com/trees_pitguards.htm
http://www.dcgreenworks.org/UrbanForestry/treepitguards.html
The second link also has a handy guard for making your own wood tree guard. It’s cheap (only about $50), easy, and takes only an hour or so.
I realize this is not a proper question but I’ve seen so many bad tree guards around Brooklyn that it’s gettin’ my goat…
Man, the things people find to complain about!
The reason your FREE street tree is planted in stages is because figuring out where it’s safe to put the tree, breaking concrete, and planting, are done by different divisions. It’s more efficient that way. It’s probably costing the city $600-$900 to put in your tree; should they raise taxes so they can spend more?
Besides, you wouldn’t want your tree planted now. It’s too unseasonably hot. The parks dept. usually waits and plant trees until around the time leaves are ready to fall off the trees…
we’ve had a tree pit created by the city sitting empty for over a week. they are so friggin’ slow.
Perfect timing. We signed up for a city tree ages ago and they are finally starting to break concrete. First thing i thought of was ‘what should I do about a tree pit!’
Granted, the way the city is going the tree won’t be installed till spring. Day 1, guy with buzz saw makes the cut. Day two, nothing. Day 3, jackhammer the lines. Then leave. wtf? Day 4, not sure as I’m not home yet. But I doubt anything further has happened. Surprise me, city!
I have a guard around my tree that is built up. This is the way it was when I bought the place and it is the way it was when the tree was planted by the previous owner. I have had several people come up to me with a disgusted look on their face tell me how I am a tree killer. So, just make sure you know the history of the tree before anybody starts accusing their neighbors.
I envy you 1:37 – your neighbors are much more courteous and mindful than mine. Although I tried on several occasions to green up the tree pit in front of my home, I found that I was constantly ‘defending’ it (or trying to to.) One dog owner told me to ‘mind your business and go back into your nice little house’ when I asked her to please keep her dog out of the tree pit.
I’ve given up.
You generally want a guard tall enough to keep animals (including humans) out – you just don’t want to fill it up with soil. By all means, plant grand cover if you like; just don’t raise the soil line.
Some tree roots should indeed be above ground. Don’t bury them if they peak above the soil line. They get air that way.
The “yes” photo may not be the greatest example. I just chose that quickly… it is, however, okay to place mulch on top of the soil, as long we’re not talking inches deep.
I’m planting juniper as a ground cover; it’s hardy, evergreen, and slightly prickly, so it’ll keep out feral cats as well as dogs… also, it won’t need to be watered every day. (It’s a sunny spot.)
I’ve actually noticed something contrary to that, 1:05.
We have a really great tree pit and garden with NO fence around it.
I’ve noticed that the lush vegetation and lack of a guard around seems to lead to LESS dog urine.
For some reason the fence or wood or whatever it is seems to signal to the dog owner that pissing on it is ok.
You can install a great tree pit but unless that also includes a fence or the like around it you will not accomplish one of the important suggestions on the (very helpful) second link-
“Keep dogs from using your tree pits as a bathroom. Dog urine is acidic and can burn plants and tree roots. Dog feces are ugly and high in nitrogen. Both are harmful to trees.”
The roots of tree in front of my house are above the soil. Would the tree be better off if there were soil above the roots?