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Toll-Free: (800) 461-5539
Phone: (509) 886-1566
Fax: (509) 884-5464
Address:
Mail:
PO Box 75
Wenatchee, WA 98807
Physical:
4857 Contractors Drive
E. Wenatchee, WA 98802
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Trees and Turf
Woody plants and turfgrasses are both critical components of design plans
for homes, offices and parks. Trees and turf offer distinct personal, functional,
and environmental benefits. Personal preferences for color, fragrance and form should
complement the functional properties of size, shape, density, and placement of plant
material.
We've all seen thinning grass under large shade trees; large
surface tree roots that cause safety hazards and mowing obstacles; young trees that
don't seem to grow; and tree trunks badly damaged by lawn mowers or string trimmers.
All of these undesirable affects can be caused by trees and turf growing too closely
together.
Turfgrasses provide many of the same environmental benefits as trees.
They
- change carbon dioxide into the oxygen we breathe
- cool the air by changing water into water vapor
- stabilize dust
- entrap air polluting gases
- control erosion.
Turfgrasses, in addition to being environmentally beneficial, are attractive in
formal and informal designs. There are many advantages to combining trees and turf
in the landscape.
Selection
When trees and turf are used in the
same areas, extra attention must be given to plant material selection in addition
to the usual hardiness, climatic and soil needs. An effort should be made to make
the trees and lawn compatible. Grass is generally a sun-loving plant. Most grass
species will not grow well in areas that get less than 50 percent open sunlight;
however, new varieties with improved shade tolerance are being introduced. Consult
your garden center specialist or sod producer for recommendations of shade-tolerant
grasses for your area.
In areas where the lawn is the primary design
feature, select woody plants that do the least damage to grass growth and maintenance.
The woody plants should be small, have an open canopy (trees that allow sunlight
to penetrate to the ground) or have a high canopy. Select trees that do not root
near the soil surface; surface rooting is most serious where a shallow topsoil is
present. Remember, tree roots get larger as the tree gets older.
Competition
Trees, shrubs, ground covers and lawn grasses all require sunlight, water and rooting
space for growth. Each plant in the landscape competes with the neighboring plant
regardless of type or species. Some even produce chemicals that are exuded from
roots to restrict growth of nearby plants. For each plant to do well, it must have
adequate space. Since perennial woody plants increase in size each year, they require
additional space over time. The landscape design should provide adequate space for
these plants to mature.
While shade is the biggest, most obvious problem trees create for turf growth, a
tree's roots also contribute to poor turf performance.Contrary to general thinking,
most tree roots are in the top two feet of soil. More importantly, the majority
of fine, water absorbing roots are in the top six inches of soil. Grass roots ordinarily
occupy a much greater percentage of the soil volume than tree roots and out-compete
them for water and nutrients, especially around young trees. However, grass root
density is often much lower in areas where trees were established first. In these
situations, tree roots compete much better for water and nutrients and prevent or
reduce the success of establishing new turf. Competition is especially important
when transplanting, seeding or sodding. The newest plant in the area must be given
special treatment and must receive adequate water, nutrients and sunlight. This
frequently means that competing sod should be removed from around transplanted trees
and shrubs, or that some of the lower branches should be removed from existing trees
above a newly sodded lawn. In any case, DO NOT do any deep tilling around trees.
Mulching is an alternative to turf around trees and its use eliminates potential
competition. A 2- to 4-inch layer of wood chips, bark or other organic material
over the soil, under the drip line is recommended because it:
- helps to retain soil moisture
- helps to reduce weeds and controls grass
- increases soil fertility when mulch decomposes
- improves appearance
- protects the trunk from injuries caused by mowing equipment
and trimmers that
often result in serious tree damage or death
- improves soil structure (better aeration, temperature and moisture conditions).
Maintenance Practices
Maintenance practices for trees and turf are different, and treatment of one
can unintentionally damage the other. Because tree and grass roots exist together
in the upper 6 to 8 inches of the topsoil, treatment of one may damage the other.
Fertilizer applied to one plant will also be absorbed by the roots of a nearby plant.
Normally this is good, but excessive fertilization of either trees or turf can result
in tree-crown or grass-blade growth greater than that desired.
Many herbicides or weed killers that are used in turf can cause severe damage to
trees when misapplied. This can occur on windy days, causing the drift to fall on
non-target plants or on hot days when the herbicide may vaporize and diffuse into
the air. While most herbicides do not kill tree roots, some, such as soil sterilants
and a few others, do. Herbicides that can cause tree damage have statements on their
labels warning against using the product near trees. Watering of lawns is beneficial
to trees if the watering is done correctly. Trees need the equivalent of one inch
of rain every seven to ten days. Frequent, shallow watering does not properly meet
the needs of either trees or turf and can be harmful to both. Turf growing under
or near trees should be mowed at the top of its recommended mowing height. Mowing
off no more than one-third of the grass blade's height and letting the clippings
remain on the lawn will do much to ensure a healthy and vigorous lawn. In an ideal
situation, tree and turf maintenance would be handled by the same individual in
order to maximize the benefits of all maintenance practices.
Special Situations
- Placing fill dirt around existing trees. Fill dirt is frequently added around existing
mature trees so that a level or more visually desirable lawn can be established.
Fill dirt changes the ratio of oxygen to carbon dioxide around tree roots and the
roots may die. Consult a tree care expert before adding fill or constructing soil
wells around tree trunks.
- Establishing lawns around existing trees. Preparation of a seedbed for lawns requires
disruption of the upper 4 to 6 inches of topsoil. This soil contains the feeder
roots of trees. Damage to tree roots often results in declining tree tops.
- Creating tree root buffers with turf. A sufficiently wide strip of turfgrass between
trees and hard surfaces such as building foundations, sidewalks and roads can help
to reduce the potential damage caused by tree roots as well as provide an area where
water and nutrients can soak into the soil and be beneficial to both turf and trees.
- Lawn watering in arid sites. Homes are sometimes built in woodlots. In the West,
this is especially damaging when dryland trees encounter watering required to maintain
grass. Excess water at the tree trunk encourages growth of fungi that can kill trees.
Thin turfgrass growing around trunk-scarred, weak trees need not be a common sight
in the landscape. With proper preplanning, proper plant selection and placement,
and reasonable management, the many and varied benefits of both trees and turf can
be readily achieved.
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