Preferred mulches for this purpose include: Do not use plastic mulch for shrubs or trees as it prevents air and water from reaching roots. The symptoms and effects of over-mulching may take years to surface, but it is safe to believe that an over-mulched tree is in for a long, slow, but inevitable death.įurthermore, it’s also advisable to lay landscape fabric under gravel mulch to prevent weeds. That’s not all excess mulch can equally create a home for voles that eat the bark off of trees, often leading to their death. Sadly, these secondary roots are liable to girdling the primary roots and trunk. Additionally, trees that escape rot problems may begin to grow new secondary roots from the trunk. When you pile excessive mulch against the bark, it may start to decompose, resulting in further disease and insect issues. Lots of well-meaning gardeners usually harm their plants by building “mulch volcanoes,” which is done by piling mulch up around the plant’s trunk. This is because if you spread much more than 3-inches of mulch, problems can start to develop.ĭeep mulching can lead to excess moisture and invite disease, rodents, and insects to take up residence. You may be tempted to apply a fresh layer each spring, but that may not be necessary. While a little mulch is good, too much of it can be disadvantageous. What to Keep in Mind When Mulching Around Trees and Shrubs If you’re using organic mulch, rake up and replace it in the spring, especially around fruit trees and roses. The mulch should be replaced as needed during the growing season to maintain the 2-4 inch depth.
The mulch should be raked into a flattened doughnut shape, making sure to keep it at least 6-inches away from the stems of the plant or trunk.Īfter this, make a neat outer edge by leaving a little gap between the edge of the surrounding lawn and the mulch.
Use 2-4 inches of mulch to cover the cleared area. Then shake the soil out of the turf before throwing it away to maintain the soil depth around your shrubs and trees. While doing this, you want to be very careful to dig into only the top 2-3 inches of the soil. Remove lawn grass by using a spade to slice under it You can pull weeds by hand or simply hoe them out. This will prevent them from growing up via the mulch. Get rid of turf and weedsĬlear all the grass and weeds from the area you want to cover. This will help you to unify your landscape plantings and save mowing time. Then group trees and shrubs into beds, rather than mulching around individual plants. If possible, mulch out to the edge of the widest branches or its drip line. When mulching, the plant’s size and turning radius of your mower will determine the shape and size of the mulch area.Ĭalculate the area that needs covering in square feet, then using the mulch calculator, determine how much mulch will be required.
Sand mulch or inorganic stone is fireproof and is suitable for coastal landscapes and arid, but may attract ants and cats.Īfter you’ve chosen a mulch, start by weeding the area where you’ll apply the mulch. These mulches decompose at different rates, depending on the climate, size, and composition of the pieces.Īdditionally, large chunks of bark last the longest, while shredded leaves and grass clippings need constant replacement. Organic mulches are the ideal choice for trees and shrubs, and woodchips and bark mulch are perhaps the most common materials used.īut while organic mulch adds to the overall health of your soil, it attracts insects and may be combustible. Once these things are ready, the first step is to choose the right mulch. To start, you’ll need to following tools and materials: