You want your yard looking its absolute best, and that is a good goal to have. A good looking yard is a healthy yard, but there are many different practices that we often see property owners tackling themselves and they’re just not doing it right – or not as well as they could. Read on to learn more about what steps you need to take in order to properly mulch your trees.
The first step is to understand that you want to go with an organic mulch. The reason? Trees tend to grow in a forest for a reason. You want any mulch you use to really mimic the natural environment that any decorative trees on your property would be in if they were actually back in the forest. A good organic mulch complete with bark and compost provides major benefits to your tree including:
- Reducing mower damage as the mulch gives that extra barrier around the tree
- Reduces weed growth
- Keeps moisture at the base
- Helps to keep soil temperature at a steady and healthy spot
Get a good organic mulch like hardwood mulch, and work with that. This will do wonders for your trees and offer the maximum amount of benefits.
The next step is careful measurement. You want the mulch to be about 2-4 inches deep and certainly no more than that. This is critical! Many times people pile on too much, and this can prevent the root system and base of the tree from receiving the full benefits of nutrients and moisture available. You also want to make sure this isn’t packed tightly up against the base. Leave a little bit of room right around the base to allow it to breathe. You’ll be amazed how much these little changes can make a huge difference.
Also consider the size of your mulch circle. Generally speaking, bigger is better in this case. One of the major benefits of a mulch circle is it prevents the growth of turf grass in that area, which means your trees aren’t competing with the turf for the limited amount of moisture. Ideally in the perfect conditions you would be able to make a wide mulch circle that comes out to the beginning of where you see branches reaching out as “feelers.” This is going to mimic the root system below so by making sure you have that much area covered, you’re increasing the level of nutrients that the tree is receiving.
These are easy tips to implement, and even these small changes can go a long way towards seeing much larger and more beneficial results. Your trees will grow faster, stronger, and be healthier and more resistant to disease or pests as a result. Take a little bit of extra time to take care of tree mulching the right way and you’ll be surprised at how much that helps!
When it comes to getting that perfect yard or that perfect look, remember it’s the little things that go a long way to take care of the heavy lifting.