With summer in full effect, your trees could use a little extra care, especially when it comes to hydration and mulching. While mulching might seem like an afterthought, it’s actually a pretty big deal for trees since it helps them retain moisture and nutrients for longer periods of time.
Now, let’s talk about some best practices for tree mulching — and what to avoid.
One mulching mishap that is popping up more and more: volcano mulching. Imagine a big mound of mulch piled right up against the tree trunk, resembling a mini volcano. While it might not seem like a big deal at first glance, this style of mulching can wreak havoc on our trees in the long run, causing issues such as disease, decay, root rot, and the eventual death of the tree.
But fret not! There’s a smarter way to mulch that’ll keep our trees healthy and growing:
- Grab a rake and gently spread the mulch in a neat circle around the tree, making sure to avoid piling it up against the trunk.
- Look for organic mulch like shredded bark or composted wood chips — they’re like superfoods for trees, providing nutrients and insulation.
- Follow the 3-3-3 Rule: As you spread the mulch around the tree, the mulch should be about 3 inches deep, extend out to a radius of about 3 feet from the trunk, and leave a 3-inch gap, like a donut, around the trunk itself.
The benefits of mulching extend beyond hydration and nutrients. It also prevents grass and weeds from growing, which steal valuable resources from the tree and also invite damage from lawn mowers and weed eaters.
To protect the tree from whirring blades, people often install a trunk guard. Unfortunately, if you forget about that guard and leave it on for too long, it can start to damage the trunk as the tree grows. Just another reason why mulching is crucial for tree health.
When mulch is spread properly around the base of the tree, weed-eater guards are no longer needed, promoting better tree health and keeping plastic waste out of our local environment. With all of this in mind, it’s important to note that improper mulching practices are still worse for your tree than leaving it with no mulch at all.
With these simple yet effective steps, we can show our trees some extra love and steer clear of the pitfalls of volcano mulching.
So, let’s roll up our sleeves, grab that mulch, and get ready to give our trees the care they deserve. Happy mulching!
