It'll kill it

Yes.

also.. any soil you add over the root mass.. will be filled by apple roots within a few years.. if it doesnt kill the tree ..

roots are made to tolerate dampness..

trunks are basically designed to be dry ... pile soil against it .. and you will kill the trunk.. with too much moisture...

ken

Here's the thing to think about.

Have you ever noticed that, any time you see a new subdivision, where a lot of tall woods are preserved, that a substantial portion of those trees always seem to die about 10 years later?

This is why.

A gnarly old apple tree can make a delightful centrepiece for a flower bed, especially if the bed has a plentiful supply of spring flowering bulbs. But the plants/bulbs must be planted on the level the tree is, not in a raised bed.

Thanks for your advise everyone, I will speak to the man who suggested the raised bed around the tree?