Mulch around trees, yes or no?

[WVH1977]

Do you mulch around trees? Does it help the tree thrive? Same with bushes, do you mulch around them. I know I see lots of mulch beds around everywhere but just wondering what the benefits are besides making it look nice?

 

[Hay Dude]

Do you mulch around trees? Does it help the tree thrive? Same with bushes, do you mulch around them. I know I see lots of mulch beds around everywhere but just wondering what the benefits are besides making it look nice?

Looks nice, but then you get lassoed into doing it every year, which becomes quite a hassle.

My next house would have farmland right up to the front door if I had my way , but my wife likes manicured landscaping.

 

[WVH1977]

I have one spot in my front yard section around 2 oak trees and some cover plants I have out in that is not looking great, yet. I have cleaned it up but am thinking about putting some mulch around it until the cover plants and bushes I planted grow up some more.

Also, thinking about using pine needles since I have 12 acres of pine trees.

 

[dodge man]

No. I think it looks good, I don’t really see it help the tree though. I don’t do it because it’s too much work.

 

[Rockbadchild]

Yes, there is multiple benefit to place mulch around a tree... such as moisture retention, weed suppression, temperature Regulation and soil improvement as it break down it fertilize the soil... but do not place the mulch directly against the trunk of the tree, that can eventually kill a tree and also watch for the acidity requirement for that specific tree and the acidity of the mulch you don't want to throw it out of balance.

 

[PJRAM]

I get free woods chips from my tree guy and use them around my fruit trees. The trees are 3 year old bare root apple, peach and plum trees. They seemed to be struggling until I started adding the wood chips around them. This year they seem better than ever. I keep the chips a few inches away from tree trunks.

 

[MossRoad]

We mulch our trees once a year. It keeps the weeds down and keeps the soil moisture in. It only takes about 10 minutes to dig out the little trench around the circle to keep the grass from infiltrating, and spread the mulch.

I found that no matter how careful I am, weed eating near a tree, or mowing near a tree, I eventually knick the bark. Mulching not only prevents that, I can easily drive the mower around the circle VS having to drive in and out a few times to get the mower near a non-mulched tree.

 

[JJT]

Yes to mulch, I use shredded cedar. Avoid the mulch volcano, too much and too high is not good for the trees. The cedar smells nice and doesn't support/attract ants.

 

[amhicks21]

I've been planting trees for almost 20 years. The primary reason newly planted trees die is too much or too little moisture. The most effective way to regulate that is with mulch. Its a good idea not to pile it directly against the trunk though as this can cause rot, disease, or other infestation.

 

[Rockbadchild]

I've been planting trees for almost 20 years. The primary reason newly planted trees die is too much or too little moisture. The most effective way to regulate that is with mulch. Its a good idea not to pile it directly against the trunk though as this can cause rot, disease, or other infestation.

Do you have recommendation as what type of mulch to avoid with certain tree ? or it doesn't really make a difference ?

 

[newbury]

Before wife had me pull the bushes I used to mulch with a weed blocking fabric underneath. Saved a lot of weed whacking and herbicide. When I tried mulching w/o the fabric it took a lot more mulch to block the weeds, but by the end of the summer they still came through.

 

[amhicks21]

Do you have recommendation as what type of mulch to avoid with certain tree ? or it doesn't really make a difference ?

No, I haven't personally heard of any compatibility problems but I only use what is supplied in bulk specifically for landscape use. I suppose its possible to have problems if you're using what a tree service grinds up if the trees were carrying pests, disease or toxins but I think the risk would be pretty low and I don't know of anything specifically to look out for. Cedar is toxic to lots of things so I wouldn't use it in areas where animals would be exposed to it at length.

 

[JJT]

Before wife had me pull the bushes I used to mulch with a weed blocking fabric underneath. Saved a lot of weed whacking and herbicide. When I tried mulching w/o the fabric it took a lot more mulch to block the weeds, but by the end of the summer they still came through.

A few years ago I switched to cardboard under the mulch, it seems to work as good if not better than landscape cloth. And it's free and reduces my recycling pile......

 

[bigtiller]

Last year I planted 4 spruce trees that were each in 1 gallon pots.
I put a 24" recycled rubber tree ring around each one and a bushel or so of homemade wood chips around the tree ring. When they get a little bigger I'll remove the rings.

I also put a chicken-wire fence around each of the trees to keep the small wildlife away and a large tomato cage around it to keep the deer away.

Looking good so far.

I also planted an 8' tall oak as a memorial tree several years ago and mulched it in a 6' radius. It's about 15' tall now and all the fencing was removed.

 

[newbury]

A few years ago I switched to cardboard under the mulch, it seems to work as good if not better than landscape cloth. And it's free and reduces my recycling pile......

I tried cardboard but unless I tore it up into strips or made a lot of holes in it the soil underneath did not get water from rain.

 

[gstrom99]

No, I haven't personally heard of any compatibility problems but I only use what is supplied in bulk specifically for landscape use. I suppose its possible to have problems if you're using what a tree service grinds up if the trees were carrying pests, disease or toxins but I think the risk would be pretty low and I don't know of anything specifically to look out for. Cedar is toxic to lots of things so I wouldn't use it in areas where animals would be exposed to it at length.

If possible, I'd also try to avoid mulch from walnut trees. The juglone is bad: Black Walnut Tree Toxicity - What Plants Are Immune?