Why Building Up Soil Around Trees Kills Them

Adding a foot of soil around a tree's base within a 10-foot radius will kill the tree. The root flare and upper roots require gas exchange; burial suffocates them. This is the leading cause of landscape tree death.

Safe Alternatives for Planting Flowers

• No Fill: Plant directly in existing soil with 2-3 inches of mulch.
• Shallow Ring: If you must raise the bed, keep a 5-foot diameter circle around the trunk at original grade, and only add 3 inches of soil outside that.
• Container Gardens: Use large pots or raised beds placed beyond the dripline.

Tree Health First

Tree roots extend far beyond the canopy. Disturbing the critical root zone (within the dripline) risks the tree's survival. Flowers are replaceable; mature trees are not.