This Horticulture Hotline is a continuation of last week's article about soil modification around trees. The article is the ANSI standards for soil modification.

These are just a few situations that I see all the time. If you would like to read the complete article, you could go to www.tcia.org/standards/CurrentProjects.htm. I will put a few comments in []'s.

14.5 Prevention and mitigation of compaction practices.

14.5.3 Measures should be taken to prevent or minimize soil compaction while working within the root zones of trees and woody plants or where landscapes are planned.

[Do not let your contractor park his/her truck or pile bricks or other materials under the shade of your nice oak tree!]

14.5.4 Activities on wet soils should be avoided or preventative actions shall be taken to avoid compaction. [I see this most on athletic fields when games are played on wet fields.

On very wet soils the macro pores (big pores that hold air) will fill up with small particles and prevent air from getting to the roots. Around trees you will see plywood or other materials put down to lower compaction if a bucket truck is in the area to prune. In many instances, you add water to something that you are trying to compact.]

14.5.5 Soils with surface compaction in areas where landscapes are planned should be amended with organic matter following mechanical loosening to the depth of soil compaction.

14.5.6 Mulching should be considered an effective long term means to treat compacted soil within the root zones of trees and woody plants. [Good organics feed microorganisms and worms that move around in the soil keeping the soil loose.]

14.5.7 Surface application of organic mulch.

14.5.7.1 The objectives of mulching should be established.

Objectives should include, but not be limited to, one or more of the following:

Inhibit weed growth

Conserving soil moisture

Moderating soil temperature extremes

Preventing and alleviating soil compaction

Preventing soil erosion and surface crusting

Improving the soil structure and fertility

Encouraging beneficial soil microorganisms

Inhibiting certain root pathogens; and,

Increasing root growth and plant vigor.

Since these standards are so important to the health of our trees and landscapes in general, I will continue with soil modification next week.

Plantasia (a green market for plant lovers) and the walking tours are rapidly approaching.

The Rose Society's Oyster Roast is from 1:30-4:30 p.m., April 11 at Bowen's Island.

Bill Lamson-Scribner can be reached during the week at Possum's Landscape and Pest Control Supply. Possum's has three locations 481 Long Point Rd in Mount Pleasant (971-9601), 3325 Business Circle in North Charleston (760-2600), or 606 Dupont Rd, in Charleston (766-1511).Bring your questions to a Possum's, fax your questions to 406-2700 or e-mail them to your newspaper's editors. You can also call in your questions to " The Garden Clinic", Saturdays from 12-1 p.m., on 1250 WTMA (The Big Talker).