10 years ago I had to remove a large tree because the roots were starting to damage the house foundation. I hired a crew who filled it with DG. Now that the roots have rotted away, the ground is starting to collapse when I walk on it. What is the best way to fill this in?
by Partagas2112
40 Comments
yikes thats gnarly
I’ve gotta be missing something here, but soil?
You fill the void missing soil with soil. Why did you not use fill dirt in the first place? When the dirt compacts later from rain and movement, you simply refill as needed.
DG?
Plant another tree.
Dirt
Maybe a layer of drainage rocks, soil, sand, and seed?
Just plain old top soil.
Is this a trick question? Fill it with soil.
Looks like you have a mix of sand or sandy loam…so if you want it to look more uniform use that.
I’d fill it with green legos
What is dg?
Just wondering, did you happen to get extra time on tests in school?
Landscape looks like hellscape. Maybe just ignore it like the rest of the yard?
Everyone is saying soil which makes sense but the best thing to use when you have a void is fill dirt. Fill dirt or backfill is taken from deep enough that its almost totally inorganic so it is much denser and doesn’t keep shrinking down. Soil is for when you want to plant something.
Dirt
The top 4” can be topsoil. Typically for deep holes, contractors will use fill dirt or something like gravel borrow or pit run (rocks mixed with sand or dirt) because it’s cheaper.
I’m about 8 years post giant maple cut down and still have sinking spots…it takes time. My driveway even cracked from the root system decay. Some gnarly fungus popped up too. One looked like a carrot with poop on the end of it.
You can plant a tree here. In about 10 years or so, the roots should be large and mature enough to fill in the voids.
Large crack spray foam
Are you asking how to put dirt in a hole?
I always fill in dirt over time so the sinking never really happens. It’s worked great. About twice a year I dump stuff on the place where a tree was at the corner of my house.
Get dirt from high spots in your yard? Buy some?
Dirt
Cement. For sure 👌🏻
Just use some soil and continue to fill as it continues to pack 👍
Fill it with sand.
Ramen.
I see people advertising free fill dirt from their yards on Facebook marketplace. Like if they dug a hole or did plumbing. Usually free just have to haul yourself. If it’s local, it’ll match the dirt you already have.
I’d personally fill in with large cobble stone first. Then dirt. It seems the other dirt washed away or compacted, so the cobble stone will fill in the major voids and the dirt will fill in between those. Unless you’re planning to put another tree in this area go with only dirt.
Use dirt.
What’s that fabric doing in there?
I’m gonna say the answer is put dirt in there
Defo plant a tree
Just keep pooping in it and stamp the poop in
It’s already full of air but you can’t see it because it’s transparent.
Decades ago many large trees were removed from the forested property I currently own.
Back in 2020 I was walking through forest and fell waist deep into a three foot wide hole. Pulled myself out, and discovered it was the rotted remains of the trunk of a tree that had been cut down long, long ago. Leaves, pine needles and other forest debris had covered up the trunk/hole, so there was no indication it was there.
And I actually was rather lucky, because as I feel in the hole my right foot caught on a solid piece of wood down below. After I pulled myself out and returned with a flashlight I could see the hole went down at least ten feet.
I ended up filling the hole with large stones and gravel, and it took a LOT more material to fill the hole than I initially imagined.
Time.
Id use a shovel. If you really want you can use your bare hands to throw the dirt in but thats gonna take longer and get messy.
Molten lava would be neat.
More dg.
Oh oh i saw a guy fill a crack with ramen noodles once do that.
Blow up a balloon and put it in the crack. Fill gaps with spray foam. Put ramen on top to make a solid base. Then fill in the gaps with hot glue. Put Elmer’s glue on that and spread a thin layer of rocks and sand on it so it looks natural.