Trees, Shrubs and Conifers: hemlock tree, 1 by Pistil

Pistil wrote:
Uh oh- this spring I spread 6" of a lightweight commercial planting mix under my pine tree, and planted in it. I kept it away from the bark at the base. I had read in several places that most trees could tolerate 6" without being smothered, in fact even deeper addition was recommended by various "experts" as The Best Way To Do It. (Larry Hodgson "Making the Most of Shade", George Schenk "The Complete Shade Gardener", Graham Rice "Planting the Dry Shade Garden", probably some others I can't recall. It certainly WAS easier than trying to squish plants in between the roots, into clay. So far the tree looks fine, and I have no losses of my new plants either. We'll see...