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Image 1 — Trying to save a dogwood from a mulch mountain and found it in a clay rootball prison? [W WA state]
Image 2 — Trying to save a dogwood from a mulch mountain and found it in a clay rootball prison? [W WA state]
Image 3 — Trying to save a dogwood from a mulch mountain and found it in a clay rootball prison? [W WA state]
Image 4 — Trying to save a dogwood from a mulch mountain and found it in a clay rootball prison? [W WA state]
Image 5 — Trying to save a dogwood from a mulch mountain and found it in a clay rootball prison? [W WA state]
Image 6 — Trying to save a dogwood from a mulch mountain and found it in a clay rootball prison? [W WA state]
▲ 5 r/arborists

Trying to save a dogwood from a mulch mountain and found it in a clay rootball prison? [W WA state]

My dad recently purchased a home and I'm trying to help him with it til he moves in from out of state. All of the trees were buried under a mountain of mulch, 2-4 feet up the trunks.

I thought this dogwood was mulched to regular ground level but when I pulled back the mulch (and weed sheeting), I found the start of root flare 1.5 feet above ground level. Then I realized the ball trees are bought in was separate from the surrounding dirt.

The dogwood is in a hard clay root ball which seems to my layperson eyes to be impenetrable. I had a hard time breaking it with the spade.

What do I do? I'm tempted to dig out the entire root ball, remove the hard clay and try to free the roots then replant it if the roots aren't already starting to rot.

The other trees on the property had mounds of sand, then weed sheeting, then mulch mountains helped on the trunk bases. Any advice on clearing sand is welcome too

u/BeesKneesLibraries — 4 days ago
▲ 33 r/mildlyinfuriating

4 thermometers at the same depth have different readings. [OC]

Don't be confused by that lying bastard grey thermometer in the back- it says the actual temp is 180F while the "set temp" (where it alarms) is 122F. From there, let's move clockwise. Black and red thermometer was dug out from the depths of despair for this job (as was Grey thermometer aforementioned).

Analog thermometer reads 187F and, finally, the also-grey ThermoPro reads 144F.

Doneness points to black and red reading 122.4F to be closest.

Can anyone recommend an accurate kitchen thermometer?

u/BeesKneesLibraries — 6 days ago