Killing a tree with dirt

[nilzlofgren]

Will dirt that is laying against the trunk of a tree kill it or rot it? I want to raise the level of the ground in a section of my yard, but due to local ordinances i cannot cut down the trees in this section due to it bordering the road. I want to raise the ground about two feet or so. the dirt would cover the tree trunks to that height. if not, is there any type of fabric i could wrap them with or something? thanx
P.S. These trees are all white oak pitch pine.

 

[Dadatwins]

Tree roots, besides asborbing water also need air to survive, most tree roots that feed the tree survive in the top 6-10" of the soil, by covering up the roots on that side with 2' of soil you will suffocate the roots on that side and probably kill the trees. Suggest getting a certified arborist familiar with different landscape techniques to help with your fill problem. Kudos to you for asking before you did it. Good luck.

 

[treeseer]

yes 2 feet of fill will kill white oaks. You need an arborist on site to find a way to give you what you want without killing the trees. O and you're lucky to live in a town that preserves roadside trees--the motoring public, and everyone else, benefits.

http://www.isa-arbor.com/findArborist/findarborist.aspx