I've got a neighbor who built an 18" high planter bed box with his tree in the center off it. The bottom 18" of the tree trunk is now covered in dirt. I'm under the impression this can kill the tree. Is this true or false?

Thank you, Don

It may be a waste of a planter bed but I don't see why it would kill the tree.
John S
PDX OR

Thanks for your response John. I heard somewhere along the way that covering up the part of the tree that is supposed to be above ground can kill the tree.

I've also heard that letting ivy climb a tree and wrap around the truck and limbs can kill it...by sucking the water out of the tree.

If he is planting the tree at a different level, with the tree sunken beneath the soil, that can be bad. In the winter, voles and mice can hide in the fluffy compost and bite around the tree, killing it. The raised bed doesn't kill it, but putting light mulch compost too high around it right at the trunk soil intersection can encourage "killers".

Ivy can and does kill trees. I've seen it rip down huge limbs of trees. English ivy is invasive and problematic in many ways.
John S
PDX OR

It can harm the tree.
That does not mean it will harm the tree.

guys, planting a tree too deep is different from adding dirt around it later, changing soil hight can kill the tree but it could take a long time. While planting a tree too deep might not have the same demise it's not a good practice.

Randy
Yamhill County Master Gardener