The Importance of Proper Mulching

4/26/2017

15 Comments

A newly planted tree’s best friend is mulch. It is very important to remember to mulch your tree after you have planted it.
Mulch is a valuable for your trees health and care because
•   Mulch insulates the soil helping to provide a buffer from heat and cold temperatures.
•   Mulch retains water helping to keep the roots moist.
•   Mulch keeps weeds out to help prevent root competition.
•   Mulch prevents soil compaction.
•   Mulch reduces lawn mower damage.
Steps to Adding Mulch Around Your Tree
1.   Add mulch to the base of your tree by removing any grass within a 3 to 10-foot area depending on the size of your tree.
2.   Pour natural mulch such as wood chips or bark pieces 2 to 4 inches deep within the circle.
3.   Keep the mulch from touching the trunk of the tree.
4.   Water tree properly.
Hazards of “volcano mulching”
•   Too much moisture built up at the root ball and base of trunk leading to rot and decay
•   Ideal environment for fungus, insects and burrowing pests.
•   Unnatural root development due to soil compaction.
Graphics
a)   photo of proper mulching and photo of improper mulching or “volcano mulching”
b)   photo of above grade roots: Unnatural root development due to improper mulching and will result in the likelihood of stunted growth and declining health of the tree.

15 Comments

Emilia Shanti link

6/25/2018 05:06:37 am

What do you think about using landscape fabric underneath?

Joy Butler link

8/22/2018 08:50:31 pm

I had no idea that my newly planted trees are now waiting to be mulched! It is only after encountering this very useful post. After reading it, I will look for an expert who could assist me with this. Thanks.

Wade Joel link

9/24/2019 09:53:17 am

My brother in law was telling me how my garden needed mulching and I didn't even know what it was, let alone the importance of it and its benefits. I did know about root competition so I'm glad to read that mulching can prevent this. Thank you for also including steps to do it ourselves, but I personally think that it's best to contact a professional!

kate hansen link

1/13/2020 01:25:33 pm

It's good to know that you shouldn't have mulch touching the trunk of the tree. My husband and I are wanting to work more at making our yard looking nicer, and we were thinking that getting mulch was a good idea. We'll make sure to keep these tips in mind once we get some for our yard!

David Johnson link

1/14/2020 10:41:14 am

I didn't know that mulch can act as a soil buffer. This week I moved into a house with a huge yard. I'll have to look into yard services.

rachel frampton link

1/16/2020 12:53:45 pm

I never knew that mulch is best used for a newly planted tree because it rains the water which then helps to keep the moisture of the root. I just planted new trees in my yard, but so far the result is not that great. Maybe it's time for me to consider buying mulch.

Ron Booker link

1/27/2020 08:56:05 am

It caught my attention when you said that mulch shouldn't touch the log, and water the tree accurately. My grandfather just planted a few maple trees, and he wants to take care of them. I will recommend him getting built around the trees to control any weeds as well.

Vivian Black link

3/25/2020 06:44:11 pm

You made a great point about the steps and how you should do it around 2 to 4 inches deep. My husband and I are looking for a mulching service that can help us with our landscaping. We will keep these tips in mind as we search for a professional that can help us best.

rachel frampton link

3/31/2020 04:42:20 pm

I never knew that mulch can help keep the weed out which then can prevent root competition. It's great to know that it also helps with reducing mower damages. Honestly, my lawn is dry and consist of brown spot, that's why I've been thinking of hiring a lawn mower service, maybe they'll be able to fix this matter.

Lara link

4/24/2020 01:40:12 am

Mulch plays an important role on the growth of plants. Which reason should I cover the mulch layer on plants?

Greta James link

5/29/2020 11:42:03 am

Thank you so much for your advice that you will want to put mulch around your trees that is around 3 inches thick! I recently planted new trees in my backyard, and I want to make sure that they live well and they look good. I will have to look into ways that I can get hardwood mulch that will make my yard look great and help my trees!

Rebecca Gardner link

6/15/2020 12:57:07 pm

It was interesting when you talked about how mulch keeps trees in good shape by acting as a buffer against extreme temperatures. My husband and I want to hire a lawn care service because we moved to a home with a large backyard last month and neither of us has the time or energy to care for it. I hadn't thought about having mulching done before reading your article, so thanks of helping me understand some of the benefits it would offer!

Eileen Benson link

9/15/2020 10:32:17 am

Thanks for explaining that mulch should have a depth of 2-4 inches around trees. I was catching up with my sister this morning and learned that she's looking for a landscaping service to mow her lawn and mulch her gardens soon. I'm glad I read your article so I can pass along these tips and help her find a knowledgeable lawn care service to work with!

tree services papakura link

12/16/2020 01:22:57 am

This article provides details about the importance of proper mulching . This blog happens to be one of the best blog, which give proper details about it. I enjoyed reading this blog and would suggest others too, and you would get to read about it in this link.

Tauranga Tree Company link

1/1/2021 03:29:37 am

These are some great information that you have shared here about the importance of proper mulching. I really loved it and thank you very much for sharing this with us. You have a great visualization and you have really presented this content in a really good manner.

The Importance of Proper Mulching

Leave a Reply.

Sarah H.

Archives

Categories