Conservation of mature trees

Kew's mature trees are under considerable environmental stress due to factors such as soil compaction, drought and competition from grasses.

In the great hurricane, on 16 October 1987, the whole root plate of the Turner's Oak, one of our oldest trees, lifted and settled back in the ground. This appeared to rejuvenate it, as it was showing signs of stress and decline due to compaction of the root plate from the many people who take shelter under the broad evergreen crown. This was one of the factors that initiated the present day proactive decompaction programme for mature trees in the arboretum, which began in 1998. This programme involves relieving compaction around the root crown, mulching over the turf and injecting a mixture of beneficial mycorrhizal fungi and bacteria. Loosening of the soil and injection of the mycorrhizal fungi is being performed using a ‘Terravent’ Soil Decompactor.

The success of this new maintenance technique is being carefully monitored, but trees have been showing improved mycorrhizal systems little more than a year after treatment.

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