There are many different steps that should be taken to care for your trees.
Healthy trees require services like pruning, fertilization, watering, and more to continue to perform optimally. Knowing what your trees need (and when they need it) is important.
One of the steps that you can take to boost your tree’s health is add a mulch ring. While that sounds simple enough, there are some important things to know about mulching.
In this article, we’ll talk about why mulch around trees is so valuable and how it should be done to gain the full benefits.
While this is not a service that we offer, we do want to help you set your trees up for success.
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Trees don’t NEED mulch the way they need water, air, sunlight, or nutrients. Trees will survive without mulch. Obviously, you might have had trees in your yard for years that have lived without mulch.
That being said, trees will greatly benefit from a mulch ring if you choose to add one. If you want your trees to be as healthy as possible, mulch is a valuable addition. There are some really important reasons to consider mulching around your tree that we’ll get into next.
Yes, mulch is very good for trees for a few key reasons that we will go over in the next section.
But it’s important to note that mulch is only good for your trees if it’s done properly. When you mulch your trees incorrectly, you can actually do more harm than good. “Mulch volcanoes” are the most common way that trees are improperly mulched.
A mulch volcano is when mulch is mounded up against the trunk of the tree and then tapers down.
This is unfortunately a common mulching habit even though it is incorrect. Chances are you’ve seen a tree mulched this way. Maybe you even have trees in your yard that have mulch volcanoes. People often don’t realize this is incorrect as even some landscaping companies fail to mulch the proper way during tree installation.
But this can lead to a lot of harm.
Mulch volcanoes can lead to bark decay and damage, and can ultimately turn into root rot. That’s because the mulch will naturally start to decompose and heat up over time. You don’t want this to occur against the bark of your tree. Mulch volcanoes can lead to problems with disease and pests and can hinder root development. It’s a common reason for girdling roots.
Instead, the proper way to create a mulch ring is to make a donut, with no mulch piled up against the trunk.
The type of mulch also makes a difference. We do not advise using rubber mulch, which simply does not have the benefits of a natural wood mulch. Also, cheap mulches that have weed seeds and other fillers aren’t ideal either.
When people inquire about the pros and cons of mulching around trees, there are only really cons when it’s done wrong or with a low-quality mulch. As long as mulch rings are created properly with a good quality mulch, it’s worth mulching around your trees.
Let’s talk about some of the benefits that make mulching around trees so worthwhile.
No, it’s never too late to mulch around your trees.
You can actually mulch around your trees at any time of the year but most people aim for the spring or the fall so that they’re getting all of the benefits mentioned above at times when they’re needed the most. Spring and fall also happen to be two times when people tend to be looking more at their yards and getting projects done.
Mulch probably needs to be replaced every one to two years as the natural decomposition process takes place. Often, the exact timing for replacing mulch will depend on the conditions and the mulch type you used. You’ll regain all of the mulching benefits again with a fresh coat of mulch!
While we do not offer tree mulching, we do offer other important tree services like pruning, disease control, pest control, and fertilization. Since we care about seeing trees thrive, we are also always available to answer tree health questions, like how to mulch.
When you hire us to be your tree care partner, you get our expertise as well.
That also means having a professional eye on your property. That can make a huge difference when it comes to preventing problems with an issue like diseases or pests. Often spotting these problems early requires an expert eye.
There are a lot of different needs that your trees can have at different times of the year. But with the right company, you’ll ensure your trees are getting the proper care all year long. As you can tell from this guide, different times of the year can mean different needs for your trees. But a tree care expert will know exactly what’s needed.
At Limbwalker, we are committed to preserving the health and beauty of trees here in Kentucky. We got into this industry because we truly love trees. We know that they serve many valuable purposes and we want to do what we can to help homeowners enjoy them for many years to come.
If you’d like to learn more about tree services for your Louisville home, get in touch, get your quote, and get back to enjoying your yard.
