I want to get rid of my tree rings now that my trees are a few years old. Is it safe to do that?

Question

I moved into my home 4 years ago. All of my trees were planted at that time. The trees were planted at a depth shallow enough to where my tree rings are above regular ground level (maybe because I live in the DFW area in Texas and the soil is thick clay?). Now I am ready to let my grass grow up to the trunk of trees so my trees look more natural and like they have been there all along. Can I just taper the rings down to ground level and let the grass grow over....or will that cut into the root ball of the tree?

Answer 1

You can if you wish, but 1) don't disturb the soil level and 2) expect the trees to be outcompeted by the grass for water.

Answer 2

Remove them, some folks think they look tidy others don't.
No reason you can't let the grass grow right up to the trunk, understand a root system, the roots will be well below grass level on most trees, they extend out from the trunk in all directions and will stop at the drip line, that is the furthest the branches go out to. This drip line is where you water or feed the tree with fertilizer.
Note the tree only has a root ball when you buy it, once planted the roots become more natural and extend out in all directions.

Answer 3

remove the rings. mulch out to drip line,do not let grass grow to trunk because it robs the tree of water,etc.