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Building up Soil Around a Tree

februarysgirlfebruarysgirl Posts: 835
in Problem solving
I planted 3 fruit trees (Victoria and Czar plum plus a green gage) in some raised beds in 2019 and they've gone great guns ever since. The soil level in the beds has dropped and I need to top it up. When I did it last year, I put some bricks either side of the trunk like a retaining wall so I could put top up the soil without it touching it. My only concern is that the soil level has continued to drop. Can I top it up around the trunk or is it going to cause problems? The only other alternative I can think of is to wrap a mulch mat around the base of the trunk so the soil isn't in direct contact with the tree.
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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    This problem arises when anything is planted at too low a level to start with. You need to make sure the level in the pot [if it's a potted plant] is the same level as almost the top of the raised bed - about an inch from the top is ideal. If you do that, it isn't a problem when you add more organic matter.
    However, since it's probably not possible to take them out and replant, the only solution is to do something that you've already though of, ie - building a little raised area round the trunk to keep soil away. Rocks, bricks or similar. I don't know if wrapping something round the trunk itself would work. It might create more problems. 

    If the difference is only an inch or two, you probably don't need to worry too much though.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • februarysgirlfebruarysgirl Posts: 835
    edited February 2022
    @pansyface I had this https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1055159/rootstock-growth-id#latest on the Victoria plum last year but never found out what it was. Should have asked my tree surgeon last week when he came to look at the hawthorn. 
  • februarysgirlfebruarysgirl Posts: 835
    @Fairygirl The raised beds were filled to the top when I built them and planted the trees but by last spring the level had dropped by about 3 inches and that was including the layer of bark chippings. I assumed to start with that it was because I'd put compost in when originally filling the beds and the sinking was due to it breaking down. That it's happened again would suggest that that wasn't the case, I definitely didn't put THAT much compost in there!

    The aesthetic problem I have is that I lined the beds with black plastic and as the soil level sinks, the more of the liner becomes exposed. Last year I hid it with an extra deep layer of bark chippings but I'm not sure how practical that's going to be if the level continues to sink.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Raised bed soil levels will always sink, regardless of what you fill them with at the start. You have to be prepared to top them up regularly.
    It's why the original planting level has to be so near the top of the bed  :)

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • februarysgirlfebruarysgirl Posts: 835
    @pansyface That's why I was intrigued, I was curious as to what tree the rootstock was from. Not that it makes any difference, I just thought it'd be an interesting bit if trivia.
  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    If you are going to put bark on the top as a mulch then you could just use some twigs/wood to build a little retaining wall around the trunk. That should blend in.


  • februarysgirlfebruarysgirl Posts: 835
    @Fairygirl I've resigned myself to the fact it's going to be my first job every spring. I'm going to buying one of these https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07W4JBRTM/?coliid=I1SNYB9E9G4YTY&colid=391IQK09AGFUQ&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it to help with bringing the bags of topsoil. The wheelbarrow is old and knackered and takes up far too much room in the shed. Fortunately it hasn't sunk as much this year but I think I may have to top up to the top of the capping this year. Unfortunately that means I shan't be able to put the bark chippings on straight away which is a problem because of the number of cats in the neighbourhood (including our own even though he has a tray 🙄).
  • februarysgirlfebruarysgirl Posts: 835
    @thevictorian I like that idea, but I don't know where I'd get the twigs from. We have a spinney at the end of our road but I don't want to risk introducing anything unpleasant into the garden.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I use a sack barrow for shifting stuff. I think you can get folding ones, but mine's just a standard type. I leave it round the side of the shed, but it can go inside. You don't have to lift bags of compost etc up and into it, like with a barrow. You're just sliding the bag onto the base, or pushing the base underneath the bag. Much easier. 
    I got it when I moved in here [9 years ago] and it was about twenty quid.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • februarysgirlfebruarysgirl Posts: 835
    @Fairygirl Sounds like something I need to look into 🙂
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