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| we planted a birch in the front yard, open space with sandy soil so it's done well but their are a lot of roots on the surface. in the past couple of years the grass has been dying in patches and we're wondering if it's due to the roots. we've looked around the neighborhood at other white birches and we don't see any others where the roots are exposed like ours. |
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| Very sandy soil can make aggressive water seeking species like maple, willows, and poplars develop more noticeable surface roots than they would in a heavier medium. I would think this this also applies to birch. The surface roots are most likely responsible for the decline of your grass. Have you noticed if your neighbors are putting in extra soil near their birches and/or seeding the lawn? Also, are the birches you compare to as old and established as yours? John |
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Wed, Mar 7, 12 at 18:35
| we need a picture.. to go much beyond what jon said ... but i will tell you.. thats what happens.. when you select a tree that tends towards surface roots ... do you water the lawn???? irrigation??? if so.. then we have a real mystery ... also include facts about drought in the last few years ... and most of all.. why is this a problem.. in your mind ... ken |
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- Posted by mainegrower Z5b ME (My Page) on Thu, Mar 8, 12 at 5:58
| There are two basic causes for surface roots. One is lack of oxygen at lower soil depths. While this does not seem likely in sandy soil, it would occur in areas where a relatively thin layer of sandy topsoil was added over compacted subsoil, especially clay. This is far more common than is usually supposed especially in new construction/developments. The second cause is lack of water at lower soil depths as Mr. Adrian suggests. If shallow surface water is all the tree receives either because of drought, lawn irrigation or lack of water holding humus content at lower soil depths, the roots will be at the surface where the water is. |
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