tree diagram well are constructions built to pull through an existing Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree when the grunge score on the site is being raised or lower . Most who may have meet a tree well likely watch one build around the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree when the grade was arouse . Tree wellspring have several factor involved that check whether they are worth installing .
intent of a Tree WellThe primary aim of a tree well is to save an existing Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree from sure death when the stain around it is raise or depress . If a building site requires the ground level be raised or turn down , the subsist trees are almost certainly likely to give out a slow destruction unless something is done for them . In cases where the tree can not be move ( dug up and raised / lowered ) , a tree well is the alternative turned to .
Evaluating the Tree for a Tree WellThe first footstep is to determine whether or not a tree well is executable . Several factors should be weighed before the decision is made . First , is the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree well - establish , too old to be transpose , and of a variety and years that makes it worth keeping ? The expense of a Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree well can not be justify if the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is a fast - raise variety , is old and does n’t have a long expected lifetime , or if the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is hard injured ( has a expectant trunk opening , split up by lightning , etc . ) . at last , if the prop has many establish Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and only a few are at risk of exposure due to the construction , it ’s probably not deserving the disbursement to economize them . If the tree is a honorable , healthy specimen with plenty of year left and one that can not be easy replace , then a tree diagram well is a good option .
CC flickr photo by wwarby
How To Build a Tree WellOnce it ’s been limit that building a tree well is deserving the try , then the case of Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree well to be used should be choose . Trees require water , oxygen , and food to their roots , so completely enclosing the trunk and surrounding soil where the antecedent are is not going to work .
The most plebeian type of tree well when the dirt is being grow is thedry well with vents . This is constructed around the tree ’s torso as a well ( usually made of cosmetic endocarp or bricks so air and water flow freely and are not entrap ) . At the base of this well , which will be buried , are lay a wheel spoke of perforated pipe that have small up - shoot that gain the top of the soil or very near it . These allow zephyr and water to get into the soil where the roots of the tree diagram are and can be bury under the novel surface soil being total to advance the grade . The top of the dry well can be cover with a grating made of woodwind instrument or metal that closely hug , but does n’t quite touch , the automobile trunk of the tree . This observe children and animals from fall into the well .
Another case of tree diagram well involves add a“breathing layer”to the soil above the tree ’s roots before contribute the novel grading . This is accomplished by position down coarse crushed rock in a layer on top of the survive tier and then rate heavy chaff or landscape architect ’s matting down before adding the new soil on top . The crushed rock is run into a “ chimney ” to the trunk leaving a bare , jumpy area around the body of the tree diagram . For shallow additions to land grad ( less than a foot or so ) , this is a low - cost , soft option .
In either case , the extent of the area being make so the tree can breathe should be about the same radius around the tree as the canopy reaches ( also called the “ drip edge ” ) .
For Further Reading on Tree Wells : West Virginia University – Tree Wells [ PDF]Texas A&M Unviersity – Protecting Existing landscape painting Trees from Construction Damage Due to Grade Changes
