Meaning of tree well | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A hole or depression in the snow around the base of a tree caused by the tree's canopy preventing the accumulation of snow.
2. A structure designed to protect the base and roots of a tree, typically used in an urban setting.

Examples

“First, tree wells are formed when the canopy of a tree prevents snow from accumulating at the base. Tree wells are noted by a deep ring of much shallower snow around the trunk, with walls of snow just beyond the protection of the canopy.”

“Steer clear of the tree wells. They can be really deep and dangerous.”

“We skied back the way we had come for about thirty minutes when I saw her. Mary was hanging upside down by the tips of her skies from a tree well.”

“Townsend hare inhabit this area, particularly above the cabin, and a skier is likely to have one explode from a tree well and disappear into the whiteness as he skis by. Life is a constant bivouac for them -- they spend days huddled in tree wells during storms -- but I suspect they are as content and warm in their luxurious coats as we are in a cabin.”

“A tree well is a great solution to a problem that often arises during excavation of a building, driveway, or road site. When excavated soil is carelessly mounded around the base of a tree, the tree gradually suffocates. Removing this soil from around the trunk and dry-stacking a tree well to retain the soil at a safe distance can save a tree's life.”

“Flat surface tree wells create a cleaner architectural effect where trees appear to grow directly out of the pavement.”

“Excavate the soil to a depth of at least 1 metre (3 feet) and make sure that the soil in the tree well or within at least 2 metres (6 feet) of the tree is free of rocks and debris.”

CEFR level