Keep the mulch away from the trunks and at a depth of 3-4 inches and the trees will love it.

tj

Anything you can do to make it so the tops of the exposed roots aren't being shaved off will be a step forward. Short of dumping a thick layer of new soil beneath them which would not be desirable.

roots need air ... so never add soil ... but mulch shouldnt matter ...

trunks stay in the air.. and basically dry .. so dont heap it up too near the trunks ...

where are you???.. in my MI.. i would tell you to just have them felled and piled.. and have a big fire ... if allowed in your county ... these trees are past their prime.. and i wouldnt waste too much money on them.. trying to make them better ...

also.. in my MI.. they are being attacked by a multitude of problems ...

so my number one recommendation .. is to plan for the long term future.. and get a new set of trees to eventually replace these ... small and cheap.. so they have a decade or two to grow.. before you agree with their long term viability ...

many soil conservation districts have annual spring tree sales .. look into such ..

finally.. do NOT plant a monoculture ... one problem here.. is whoever planted planted all the same thing.. and fast forward a couple decades.. and they all have the same potential problems ... diversify and avoid such in 20 more years ...

ken

ps: i remember your pix.. i wonder if i said the same thing last time.. lol ...

Main issue with filling under trees is resulting sudden reduction of atmospheric moisture (including fog drip) reaching feeder roots and not suffocation of buried roots.

Just remember the conditions the trees grew in before they became your yard. I have a wild natural area that is what the whole lot was before the house was built. It has about 4" to 5" of leaves, pine needles, and decaying wood. The trees are thriving.

At least once per year we have a wood shredding "carnival" I have used the wood chips on the paths in the wood and on the ramp to my shed. Within a couple of years the wood chips disappear. The results is some of the best soil on my lot.

There are many things that grow in shaded wooded areas. You just have to look to find what grows best in your area. To start, a leaf/pine needle floor among the trees create a very pretty peaceful place You can add native flower and plant if you want.

When we lived in Michigan one of our go-to areas was Hidden Lake Gardens just north of Adrian. They had large beds of primroses under the trees. If you can get them started Trout lilies brighten up the spring. If you live in more southern areas, Camelias, azaleas, can be an asset.

If you are going the native route, remember that wooded lot takes nearly as much time to keep it looking "natural" as a lawn taked to keep it mowed and trimmed.

all cleaned up ready for the next storm.As much as I love trees I'm beginning to think no more trees for me. There used to be 6 rows of Pines, now down to one due to disease/pest. Three large Ash trees had to be removed. Weedy Mulberries...Just over it. Had over 20 stumps ground yesterday. No more trees..no more trees..no more trees...But I do have Norway Spruce seedlings coming first week of April. See if I'm over it enough by then to plant them.

No more trees?!?! Say it ain’t so!

tj

Spruce will make a much better windbreak than pines.

Picea abies (Norway spruce) grow quite large and have a life span of 400 years. Give them good spacing for air circulation and you'll (and your grand children) have many good years watching them grow. :-)

and I love the weeping branches

down the street

big tree small house

probably 60 year old

this is why you don't plant a Norway in the suburbs

Here is another Norway spruce, planted in the middle of an open field. It doesn’t shed branches like the white pines in the background and is perhaps 35’ high in that many years. It was preexisting when we arrived, though small then, and is a beautiful part of my view. Its only maintenance has been removal of small trees planted by birds sheltering in its branches; no watering, no pruning, no fertilizer, no mulch.

And the spent cones can be included in your holiday decorations. They're 10" or so and once expanded are on the 'dry' side and have a nice 'Pine Cone' look to them. ;-)

Beautiful, symmetrical Norway spruce guessing at least 90 ft tall near Mt Savage, MD.

Another symmetrical one guarding a hillside house in Bedford, PA.