A homeowner built a timber ring 6-7 layers high around a mature soft maple and was warned fill dirt would kill it. Asks if the ring can stay unfilled.
More than 2-3 inches of fill over established roots causes dieback to mortality. Roots suffocate from oxygen loss.
Leave the ring open—no fill soil. This creates a "tree well," preserving the original grade and root aeration. The timber ring can remain as a retaining wall for surrounding grade changes.
Reference: WVU Tree Well Guide
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