Re: Sorry, I can't seem to stop quoting
Originally posted by FBerkel
On the other hand, if one raises it a little bit at a time, say a couple of feet per year, and then mulches underneath, there could be a net benefit to the tree, through soil structure improvement.
I have to disagree.
The tree itself makes the best mulch for itself.
Once you remove lower limbs the soil is exposed to sunlight, increased traffic, and soil compaction. Do you recall how many pounds per square inch a human foot creates?
Once those limbs are removed, the tree loses it's defense against the people that will inevitably drive cars, trucks, mowers, construction equipment, and other soil compactors over the roots.
Once those beds are opened, they look so bland and need new plantings. A rototiller is the perfect tool to loosen the planting bed. I've seen it done hundreds of times. Edging will need to be cut in also, nice and deep.
What formal landscape can survive without a sprinkler system? To get best results from head arrangement, the pipe system should form a complete circle around the tree, buried 12" deep. A trencher works best for this. Stay close to the trunk though, you don't want to damage any of the lawn outside the 12" wide chip circles.
Those chips should come from a tree service. Hopefully nice chips from a recently removed tree dead from Virt Wilt or a jucey fungal canker. It doesn't have to be though, with annual applications you're sure to pick some up along the way.
In a few years when the new hmeowner brings in a skidstreer to remove the chips and plant grass, that won't be a problem anymore.
With those chips out of the way, it'll be a good time to fill in those low spots and/or cut down those high spots. The Bobcat won't be quite big enough, after all these will be big grade changes. Perhaps a D-9?
Without the lower limbs, backing the quad axle dump trucks of fill in will be very easy.
Make sure not to put any soil against the trunk though.