Need ditch / swale advice......

[coastalguy]

I have two rows of young leyland cypress trees, approximately 5 years old and 6 feet tall.

During the winter when the ground gets saturated, some of the trees will blow over a little when the winds kick up. This only happens in the winter and is a direct result of standing water on the root balls.

I need to dig a ditch between the two rows of trees to reduce the water table and firm up the ground. problem is the trees are only 10 feet apart.

I guess I need to rent a mini excavator to dig a ditch?

I would rather cut a swale between the trees but 10 feet is not enough room. I need to address this problem before these trees get larger.

Any ideas??

Thanks!!

 

[Red Beast]

how long is each row? (just to get an idea of how big the job is)
Any neighbours got similar, may be able to help.
With a mini excavator and bucket you could probably do the swale.

 

[coastalguy]

I need to go about 250 ft.

A ditch would work but a swale would look better.

 

[Carykong]

I have a row of leyland cypress about 10 years old over 20 ft. tall. Leyland cypress are fast growing and have reputation for blowing over. I have lost a few. Fertilize deep to encourage the root ball to develop roots that can stand the wind and wet soil. I,also, have allowed prickly pear trees to grow up next to the cypress for extra wind buffer and something to lean on. Leyland cypress with their beatiful dense green branches are like sails in the wind when the wind blows hard. In time the root ball will catch up with the foliage and your cypress trees will be less prone to blow over. good luck.

 

[beenthere]

The roots should have reached out beyond the root ball by now (5 years).

What equipment do you have? Tractor? middle buster? rear blade?

Pics would help too.

 

[coastalguy]

The roots should have reached out beyond the root ball by now (5 years).

What equipment do you have? Tractor? middle buster? rear blade?

Pics would help too.

Their growth has been restricted somewhat I believe due to the lack of drainage around the trees.

The roots are a concern which is why I am leaning towards a small ditch between the trees.

I have a tractor but only a mowing deck, no blade.

I will try to get a pic and post it.

 

[gumshu]

I have two rows of young leyland cypress trees, approximately 5 years old and 6 feet tall.

During the winter when the ground gets saturated, some of the trees will blow over a little when the winds kick up. This only happens in the winter and is a direct result of standing water on the root balls.

I need to dig a ditch between the two rows of trees to reduce the water table and firm up the ground. problem is the trees are only 10 feet apart.

I guess I need to rent a mini excavator to dig a ditch?

I would rather cut a swale between the trees but 10 feet is not enough room. I need to address this problem before these trees get larger.

Any ideas??

Thanks!!

If you have a box scraper and an adjustable arm on your 3pt hitch, go to the web site "Everything Attachments" and view thier video under box scrapers for tractors. That will show you how to dig a ditch with a corner of your scraper. Good luck

 

[jenkinsph]

If it is in a nice landscape setting that you wan't to preserve I would put in a french drain between the trees. This would allow you to forego the unsightly ditch.

 

[MarkV]

I think I would be worried digging a ditch with a mini-ex between the trees. You will only be 5' from the base of the tree and root damage would be the concern.

MarkV

 

[coastalguy]

Here are some pics....

You can see in the first pic I have planted some small leylands on in October. You will see they have a swale besides them.

The other pics are of my 5 year old trees. Notice how the left hand side is smaller ( I believe due to lack of drainage).

The last pic is a poor attempt to remove standing water with a shovel.