Silver leaf maple

Will the bit of stem that you expose recover if its been in the ground for 2 years N2O? The tree trunk will certainly look better for being on a level with the ground. Do you do it with a small tool like a trowel? Sorry another question what is your 'Sick tree treatment'?

Here is the link that explains the organic "sick tree treatment":

http://www.dirtdoctor.com/organic/garden/view_question/id/2840/

I have done this with all of my "woody trees and shrubs" and they all have responded dramatically in the last two years!

Q:Will the bit of stem that you expose recover if its been in the ground for 2 years N2O?

A: Of course! That root flair is part of the trunk and should have bark on it just like the rest of the tree. Once it is exposed, there will be no bark and it will grow that bark within a year. There is no "recovery" at all. Once that flair is exposed, the plant will give a sigh of relief and start thriving like crazy, regardless of the growing season..
Here's an education on proper "root flare":

http://www.dirtdoctor.com/organic/garden/view_question/id/1609/

Hope this helps!
~N2O~

It does many thanks

Well, I was going to do a "flair treatment" on my "Silver leaf maple" today and ran into a major problem..
As I started to pull the St. Augustine growth from the trunk, ANTS went everywhere! My Maple has a major ant infestation.. It is not a problem for the tree because ants loosen the soil and aerate the area.

The tree needs some flair work, but I do not want to disturb the ants because of their "aeration work" on the soil around the tree.

I might just let "Mother Nature" call the shots on this one and see what happens.. Sometimes that is the wise choice..

The "ant aeration" of the soil gives me the perfect opportunity to apply some organic amendments to the soil that will benefit the tree in the long run.. This could work out very nicely!
~N2O~

You never cease to surprise me N2 but if you have lots of Ants is there a risk of no soil around the roots just large pockets?

Not at all Drc.. As ants loosen the soil, they provide a way for badly needed Nitrogen to get deep into the ground.
Nitrogen deficiency can stress a plant because most plants benefit from being a little dry, then being watered, because the "dry period" allows available Nitrogen in the atmosphere to permeate deep into the soil and into the plant's root system, where they can directly intake the Nitrogen as a gas and not a solid fertilizer.
When a plant's soil is very moist, the naturally occurring Nitrogen cannot penetrate the soil. :-)

Thanks again