Have you discovered the magic of mulch rings? Mulch is one of the most beneficial and cost-effective steps you can take to help your trees thrive. If you’re mulching a little bit here and there, you might not be mulching enough.
Think about trees in their natural habitat: the forest. Are they surrounded by grass? Nope. In the woods, trees benefit from a hefty protective layer of debris, including leaves, branches and other organic material to help nourish and protect them. Mulch replicates that protective layer in your yard.
How Does Mulch Help My Trees Thrive?
The benefits of mulch are nothing short of miraculous. Did you know that a mulch ring placed 3 to 6 feet around a tree can improve root health and almost double your tree’s growth rate? Amazing, right? Here’s a look at how well-applied mulch protects and nourishes our precious trees.
- Grass and weeds can rob your trees of water and nutrients. Mulch prevents competition from surrounding plants.
- When organic mulch biodegrades, it replenishes nutrients in the soil, much like the litter layer in forests, creating an environment where microbes and other beneficial organisms thrive.
- Mulch provides a cozy insulation layer that helps regulate soil temperature.
- Mulch helps your soil retain moisture by slowing the evaporation process.
- Mulch creates a buffer to protect your trees from mowers and other equipment and reduces foot traffic around your trees.
Finally, mulch creates curb appeal. Mulch rings are about much more than making your yard look pretty. However, aesthetics are certainly a bonus. Well-tended mulch rings help you achieve a neat and tidy look. You can also plant favorite perennials within your rings for a pop of color.
Mulch Rings: How Big Should I Go?
If you’re mulching primarily for aesthetic reasons, your mulch rings are probably too small. We usually think of a standard mulch ring as four feet in diameter around your tree, but you can and often should go wider as your tree grows.
Tree roots extend far wider than many of us realize and usually spread even farther than the tree’s branches. One rule of thumb is to mulch to the edge of your tree canopy (also called the drip line) when possible.
How Can I Get The Most Out Of My Mulch?
We usually recommend an even layer of one to two inches of mulch, removing old mulch before applying a new layer to avoid an overly thick layer that may attract pests or disease. Avoid “mulch volcanoes” around tree trunks. Over-mulching around the trunk can deprive your tree’s roots of much-needed oxygen. Mulch volcanoes can trap moisture and harm your tree’s inner bark tissue, and dampness can lead to fungus and disease. Finally, piled-up mulch can attract insects and rodents, harming your tree’s roots and trunk.
A wide ring can have countless benefits for your trees. However, excessive or improperly applied mulch can hurt your trees. That’s why working with an experienced landscaping team can help you protect and enhance the environment for trees young and old. The tree care experts at Epling Landscaping and Lawn Service know precisely when, where and how much to mulch. We’ll help you get it right for healthy, happy trees.
