If the newly exposed soil level is roughly the same level as your neighbour’s garden, could it be when they constructed raised decking and boxed the trees in they filled in the boxes with soil and artifically raised the soil level around the trunks? If thats the case, its amazing the trees survived that treatment and the question now is, is it better for the trees to brush the soil away from the trunks or raise it up again by constructing new boxes? I don’t actually know the answer to that btw, but hoping someone else might!
2 of the trees in the middle are dead. I dont think the previous owner cared about the health of the garden. Style over substance.
I think you've got that right. I have done a search on the internet and there are several items about incorporating trees into decking, but l can't see anything about what happens to the trees when the decking is removed. My initial reaction is to gently brush as much soil away without damaging the bark and just let them breathe (sorry if that sounds a bit fanciful). I'm hoping there are some tree experts on here who can help.
It looks to me as if the tree in the first pic has roots at the surface. They need to be covered with soil so a raised bed needs to be reinstated around it.
The other trees look as if the soil was heaped up around them ... I can’t see sign of any roots where the soil is falling away. Heaping up the soil around those trees is probably killing, or has already killed them.
I’d get them taken down and the stumps ground out. That will give you a lot more options with the design of the garden
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I would wonder why there was decking there in the first place? Might have been because either the ground gets soggy for some reason or alternatively too dry/shady from the trees for any grass to grow. If you have had heavy rain since you took the decking up, how does the ground look now? I'd go for slate chippings instead of gravel as the cats don't like it. I think new boxes around the trees would be good, lined inside with plastic even better.
I would wonder why there was decking there in the first place? Might have been because either the ground gets soggy for some reason or alternatively too dry/shady from the trees for any grass to grow. If you have had heavy rain since you took the decking up, how does the ground look now? I'd go for slate chippings instead of gravel as the cats don't like it. I think new boxes around the trees would be good, lined inside with plastic even better.
The previous owner ripped up a mature garden. Put a hot tub in the bottom half and decked the upper section for low maintenance. I counted 16 external light that he installed as well.
The previous owner ripped up a mature garden. Put a hot tub in the bottom half and decked the upper section for low maintenance. I counted 16 external light that he installed as well.
Sigh. Still takes all sorts, and it was his garden. Hopefully you'll be able to restore it, and then improve on it!
I know, l don't know what l was thinking ! Too early in the morning and only one cup of tea is my excuse. @Ne1l personally l would dig it out and put in on the compost heap, give it a chance to rot down with the heat. Being a nosy person, any chance of photos as the work progresses?
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The other trees look as if the soil was heaped up around them ... I can’t see sign of any roots where the soil is falling away. Heaping up the soil around those trees is probably killing, or has already killed them.
I’d get them taken down and the stumps ground out. That will give you a lot more options with the design of the garden
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
- Put box round large tree on the right and raise soil level
- Remove soil around trees on the left
- Slab the whole garden (joking about this one point
Have a good weekend folks!Don't overdo it , have a good weekend.