Spring is here, which means it’s time for nature to spring back to life. Lawns are waking up from their winter slumber, and color is popping up everywhere. This is also the time when people — having grown tired of their dead, dry, bare yards and patios — are ready to spruce up outdoor spaces to prepare for backyard cookouts and activities.
Mulching is an important part of the process. Did you know mulch is not only aesthetically pleasing but also healthy for your plants and trees? It helps balance soil temperature, keeps weeds at bay and retains moisture in the soil. Mulch also improves soil by replenishing nutrients as it decomposes. This promotes root growth and better overall tree health.
But with a plethora of different mulch types to choose from, which one should you choose for your trees? This is an important question to ask because some mulch is far superior to others to promote healthy trees.
Best mulch for trees
Our Kingsport ISA-Certified arborists at Promier Tree recommend natural wood chips. This mulch includes every part of the tree, from branches and twigs to leaves. Due to the uneven sizes and shapes of the chips, the pieces work together to provide the best coverage of soil and maximize the benefits of mulching. For best results, apply one inch of compost on top of your soil, then add mulch.
Acceptable mulch for trees
While natural wood chips are best, it’s also okay to mulch with bark or organic, weed-free materials like lawn clippings, shredded leaves, straw or compost. Bark is waxy and water-resistant, which means it doesn’t break down and improve soil as well as natural wood chips. If you like the appearance of bark, apply it on top of wood chips. Organic materials will decompose over time, mixing with the soil to make it nutrient-rich. But for best results, mix these materials with heavier wood chips.
Not so good…
Grass — which competes with trees for water and nutrients — and artificial turf, rocks, gravel, decomposed granite and plastic weed block are not good choices for mulch around trees.
No matter which mulch you decide to use, resist the urge to create the popular “volcano mulch” mound around the base of the tree that covers part of the tree trunk. This traps moisture against the tree trunk, creating the perfect conditions for diseases to grow.
Mulch should be applied 2-4 inches deep, spread from the drip line of the tree to the tree’s trunk, or, at minimum, 8 feet for medium trees and 12 feet for large trees.
Arborists in Kingsport, Johnson City, and Bristol, Tennessee
Confused about what kind of mulch to use for landscaping around your trees? Let us do the work for you. Call our professional ISA-certified arborists in the Tri-cities area for a consultation. Promier Tree can handle all your tree needs. Give us a call at (423) 872-2988, or contact us online today.