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Improving the soil around large trees

15 years ago

I've got two large Norway Maples in my front yard, each about 60 ft tall, and despite beds beneath them of 15 feet in all directions, I can't get grass to grow well anywhere near them. I originally extended the beds to the point where the surface roots stopped, but I know from digging that smaller roots run through the grass another 20 feet or so, just below the surface.

I know all about the problems associated with this type of tree, especially in a lawn.

My question is about improving the soil beyond the surface roots, where i'm trying to get grass to grow. The areas can't be tilled without killing the surface roots, but is there anything to be gained by laying down successive thin layers of compost/peat/soil in order to give the surface lawn an advantage over the tree roots? There's sparse grass growing there now, so there's no real risk of smothering the grass.

Or is it all a losing battle?

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Comments (7)

lou_spicewood_tx
15 years ago
Losing battle, more like it.
dave11
Original Author
15 years ago
Well, I might at least give it a try. The other options are to either have a crappy front lawn, or cut them down, which will be big $$. But the trees in fact look great where they are.
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philes21
15 years ago
is the problem shade from the trees?
ronalawn82
15 years ago
dave11, shade trees and grass are generally incompatible. In my opinion you will not be able to grow a lawn that has great curb appeal. However, you can successfully grow a ground cover which is a great alternative.
dave11
Original Author
15 years ago
Shade is not the problem. Most of the areas in question get loads of sun, as they are 30-40 feet from the trunks. In fact, the sunnier areas do worse, probably because they are more stressed for water now in the summer heat. The problem is the smaller roots of the trees that extend far out across the lawn, just under the surface, right where the grass roots should be.

I'm just trying now to find a way to enrich the surrounding soil so that the roots and the grass can co-exist.
philes21
15 years ago
It will do fine, if you fertilize that lawn in the problem area with Milorganite. A little extra water, but not a huge amount, will also help. But if the lawn has the fert, and is mowed tall, and gets the sun, it will hold it's own against the mature trees.

You might be making it worse my over watering the lawn in that area.
lou_spicewood_tx
15 years ago
Everybody,it is NORWAY MAPLE! You can't grow grass around them because of aggressive shallow roots!

Shade trees and grass are compatabile depending on the type of tree and grass. In Houston where there are large shade everywhere and st augustine grass easily grows under them...

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