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Tag: how to mulch a tree

  • How to Mulch a Tree Incorrectly

    How to Mulch a Tree Incorrectly

    Every spring I cringe when I see freshly mulched landscapes.  The more is better principle gets beaten silly and mulch spread with reckless abandon.

    This isn’t the first time I’ve discussed how to mulch and it won’t be the last.  How to mulch correctly is a topic worth repeating.

    Volcano mulching is when a mound of mulch is spread around the base of a tree (See photo top of page).  The cone grows yearly with each new layer.  The sooner we can stop volcano mulching the better.

    Below a tree thrives in the forest with no volcano mulching ‘help’ from man.  There’s moss growing at the base of the tree because leaves only begin to cover the ground six inches away.Oak Tree In Forest Mulched by Mother Nature

    Mimic how mother nature mulches.  She doesn’t dump piles of leaves against the base of trees.  She spreads a light coating of leaves over the entire forest.

    Why is this so hard to understand?

    The illustration below shows how to mulch a tree incorrectly by volcano mulching.  Mulch spread against the bark creates a moist place that encourages rot.  Further, tree roots grow into the mulch making them drought prone.  Finally, the mulch is so deep rain runs off and doesn’t reach the roots.

    How to Mulch Incorrectly Around Trees

    The illustration below shows how to mulch a tree correctly by spreading 2-3 inches or less of mulch 6-12 inches from the trunk of the tree.  Mulch doesn’t touch the trunk.

    How to Mulch Around Trees Correctly
    If a tree has over 3 inches of mulch carefully remove it without injuring the bark or roots of the tree.

    How to Mulch a Tree Correctly Samples

    Below a tree I mulched last year has some dirt and moss around the base of the tree.  It would be a shame to slowly kill this beautiful tree by over-mulching.

    Tree Mulched Correctly

    Another tree mulched the right way.  You can see dirt at the base of the tree and that’s good.  A few weeds may grow but it’s worth the effort.

    Tree Mulched Correctly

    How to Mulch a Tree Incorrectly Samples

    I often see trees so over mulched you could mulch several more trees with the excess.  I’m not kidding!

    More volcano mulching.  It doesn’t look natural and it’s no good for the tree.  The madness has to stop!How to Mulch Trees Incorrectly Sample 3

    Same look, different parking lot.

    How to Mulch Trees Incorrectly Sample 4

    A beautiful oak tree sentenced to a slow and painful death.

    How to Mulch Trees Incorrectly Sample 3

    Why would someone do this?  I can’t make this stuff up.

    How to Mulch Trees Incorrectly Sample 5

    Please help stop the volcano mulching madness.

  • How NOT to Mulch a Tree

    How NOT to Mulch a Tree

    I drive through neighborhoods daily and see trees mulched improperly.  People want to do the best for their trees and apply the “More is better” principal with disastrous results.

    Trees that have been over mulched dry out quicker in hot summer months and are prone to disease and attacks by rodents.  Mulching a tree like a volcano also doesn’t look natural.

    If your trees have mulch that looks like a volcano the best thing you can do is remove the excess.  There should only be 2-3″ of mulch around a tree with a minimum of 6″ of space between the mulch and the trunk of the tree.

    Be gentle when removing mulch.  You don’t want to damage the tree with your shovel.  Use your hands to remove mulch near the trunk and large roots.  Cleanly cut roots with sharp pruning shears to help them heal more quickly.