Trying to save a Spruce

[Stonehenge]

We had two decent sized Spruces transplanted a few years ago - each were in the same part of the yard, but one was sitting in a little wetter soil, and unfortunately that one was planted a little too deep. After a year it looked a little sickly; after two it looked like it would need to come down. This spring it still does not look healthy at all, but it continues to fight, pushing out new growth. The root ball for each is total sand, and was planted in about 80% clay.

Not being able to sit idly by while a tree in my yard fights so bravely, I decided to try to help with the drainage situation.

We started by trenching around the tree - approx 12" deep, 18" wide.

[Stonehenge]

We laid mirafi series N on the bottom and outside ot this trench, and over the top. We also provided a sloping outlet trench that leads to a small drain pit that is approx 2.5' deep, 2' across. Should that overflow we provided yet another shallow trench to connect to a stone drainage channel that's along 2 sides of the lot, 1' wide, 1' deep.

Once the fabric was laid, but prior to installing 3/4" clear, we installed these three 'vents'. Larger openings with screen covering (lots of little boys around here), leading to 2 perpendicular pipes that have had about 30 holes each drilled into them to allow airflow.

[Stonehenge]

Here's the vents prior to stone install...

[Stonehenge]

We filled with stone, covered with remaining fabric, and capped with a little clay to help reduce water entering this system. (BTW, Paul, thanks for the great explanation on that in a dif't thread - gave me the idea for this application)

I sure hope this works, because I really like that tree. :wub:

[Stonehenge]

Anyone else have any ideas? (that don't involve undoing what we just did)

[mdvaden]

From the first post, it sounds like the tree is in soil that takes water in like a sieve (spelling?) and holds it in a little "swimming pool" retained by the slower draining surrounding soil.

Try "radial" trenching. Like bicycle spokes radiating out. Start at the inner sandy soil, keep them skinny, and dig them outward, filling with relatively loose soil. That will allow water accumulation from the porous root ball to exit outward through the porous trenches.

I had a Rhododendron die that way last winter. Water in the hole - you know how the nurseries plant in super-porous bark like material. Good for me, my plants are on a mellow slope. I am going to dig a single slit trench from the root balls of many plants, downhill about 4' to 5' and backfill the narrow 3" trench with sand. That way the water that flows into the porour root ball, will seep into the sandy trench and flow down grade.