Trees, Shrubs and Conifers: DG Seminar 1: Assessing Your Site, 1 by Soferdig

Soferdig wrote:
Guy will probably chime in here for the expert. But I myself always planned my site around the existing trees. I have planted many trees to highlight these existing trees. IE a group of ponderosa I feel are beautiful when a planting of Acer is placed in front. The point is I always plant trees that I want in root areas of existing trees. Now In Montana we have a root pattern of 50 to 60 feet in diameter of our conifers. The only concerns are what the existing tree roots will do when raised beds are put over their root system. I have not seen one negative effect of over planting of different root systems. Also I have planned my new trees based on their size in placement and plan to cut away the closer natives eventually. I have plenty of trees so this can be done easily without making a dramatic change to the environment of existing trees. This bed is 18" deep and covers much of both of the existing trees roots. The Doug fir on the right will be eliminated when the Beech, Aspen, and True fir behind it become larger.