Creating a tree disc promotes growth and he alth, as the trees now suffer less from root pressure and competition for water or nutrients. Mulching also helps to retain moisture in the soil. But can gravel also be used to cover the tree disc?
Can I cover a tree slice with gravel?
Tree slices can be covered with gravel to suppress weed growth and create an attractive appearance. Pebbles are permeable to water, easy to care for and durable. Do not use foil or fleece under the gravel layer to avoid affecting the water supply to the tree.
Is it a good idea to cover the tree disk with gravel?
Basically there is nothing wrong with covering the bare tree with gravel or pebbles. Quite the opposite, because such a layer actually has many advantages:
- looks attractive
- is permeable to water
- suppresses the growth of weeds
- is easy to care for
- is permanent and does not need to be replaced regularly
Various types of gravel with different grain sizes are suitable for covering. Colored or white gravel (€338.00 at Amazon) (the latter is also known as marble gravel) as well as black quartz gravel are available in stores in practical packages of between one and 25 kilograms.
Can I place foil or fleece under the gravel layer?
Keep the layer of gravel on the tree layer as thin as possible - five centimeters is completely sufficient - and under no circumstances put foil or fleece underneath! The tree disc should remain permeable to water and nutrients, otherwise the tree can no longer be supplied. Waterproof materials (such as paving stones) should only be used as a border around the tree disc.
What other materials can you use to cover the tree disc?
Instead of gravel, many other materials have also proven useful for covering the tree disc. These include, for example:
- Bark mulch
- Wood chips
- Straw
- Lawn cutting
- Brick chippings
- Stone granules
Natural materials such as bark mulch, straw or grass clippings decompose in the soil and regularly provide the tree with additional nutrients. However, they have the disadvantage that they have to be replaced every few months. Bark mulch also has the ability to acidify the soil over time. Therefore, you should not mulch trees that are sensitive to acid with bark mulch.
Should you plant the tree disk?
Of course, the tree disc can also be planted, although you cannot use every plant for this. Only species that are undemanding (i.e. need little water and nutrients) and exert little root pressure are suitable for this. After all, they should not be placed in competition with the tree and rob it of water and nutrients. Low ground cover plants or bulbous plants, such as many spring bloomers, are particularly suitable.
Suitable species are also:
- Balkan cranesbill (Geranium macrorrhizum)
- Ivy (Hedera helix)
- Fairy flowers (Epimedium)
- Periwinkle (Vinca minor)
- Creeping Honeysuckle (Lonicera pileata)
- Dwarf hostas (Hosta minor)
Before planting, pay attention to how heavily the tree is shaded and, if necessary, choose shade-tolerant species.
How big should a tree slice be?
For fruit and ornamental trees, a tree disc should be about one meter in diameter. In the case of large trees, however, it is important to ensure that there is no paving around them or that the ground is not sealed in any other way. Otherwise there can be problems with the roots, which spread over the years and, for example, lift paved paths. Lawn grids, for example, are the better idea here.
Tip
Do not plant trees on freshly planted trees
Be careful with freshly planted trees: You can only plant the tree disc after five years of standing at the earliest. Before that, the young trees are still too sensitive to root competition.
