mulch.. not soil ...

it put its roots where IT WANTS THEM ... who the heck are you to go burying them.. and think there will be no downside?????

lol ...

didnt you just say.. you are in greater cleveland??? ... do you have that nasty horrible OH clay ... do NOT change the drainage of the tree ... by capping clay with something else ...

mulch ... or maybe even fine gravel ... but no soil buildup ...

ken

Hi! We are 30 miles West of Cleveland (which is now virtually shut down ... at least parts for a movie filming.)

Dug. a 10ft diameter hole for this tree. Backfilled with 1/2 aged compost and the ever lovely Ohio clay. There are drainage tiles in the back but seems the snow melt and the occasional heavy rain is too much for the system installed.
@ I *thought* mulch would be healthier for the tree ... and of course not near the trunk!

Years ago (1994) had a new patio installed. Smokey Mt. Black Granite ... like a mosaic or jigsaw puzzle. Also had the flower beds landscaped. Looked nice but in a year or so the 50+ year old magnolia was dieing. My Mom was on hands and knees pulling back the soil the idjut landscapers piled against the trunk and over the roots. She saved the tree! Hooray for Mom!

Thanks for your advice! Much appreciated! :-)