Does planting conifer tree hedge in raised beds help them to grow deeper roots?
Sunday, February 7th, 2010 at
12:01 am
please explain.
have heard for example that leylandi cypress trees grow very shallow roots and are likely to suffer from wind damage, and was wondering if planting them in a very wide but slightly raised bed would help them to grow deeper roots and become more firmly established.
please explain.
Thanks for your answers!
Filed under: Planting
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A raised bed is nothing more than a large container. Deeper roots will be formed by having more friable soil. that is a looser, more aerated soil. Leyland cypress have a tendency to grow top growth out of proportion to the root system. if the soil is amended with compost, and enriched with high phosphorous fertilizers, that will give the tree a good chance at getting established.
If you have a heavy clay soil, you can add gypsum to the soil to help break up the clay. it is a chemical reaction that will not show the results overnight, but will eventually help.
Also, water is a big issue. if you keep the plant on the dry side then the roots will spread faster. the downside to that is the top also grows slower, but the plat will grow more balanced and have a much better chance of not getting blown over in the wind.
yes
I don’t know, but I do know with trees and shrubs a good long soaking occassionally is better than watering to frequently, cause then the roots go down seeking the moisture, not certain if thats any help with the cypress trees though
The tree doesn’t know it’s in a raised bed. The roots go down the same distance.
Leylandii grow so quickly, they tend to fall over whatever you do. Try Lawsonii instead. They grow more slowly and give you a better looking plant.
Actually then you have a mound of soil with a huge tree growing in it. Regardless of root development you have a very unstable foundation for such a large tree. Along comes a gust of wind and you have a problem !
Any benefit ( which is nill ) can be undone with one gust of wind.
Also the raised bed will dry out faster.
Just a bad idea.
The plant is hardy as all get out so no worries planting like any other.
See my answer to your previous question