When I visit new clients, there are a few annoyances that really stand out to me. I am going to begin with mulch. Mulch is an organic material spread over a bed to hold in moisture, inhibit weeds and finish off a garden bed, making it look neat and tidy. It should break down/decompose over time.
- Too much mulch – over 3 inches – This picture is typical of mulch ‘volcanos’. Lots of mulch up against tree trunks. Tree roots just like us, need to breathe. Too much mulch smothers their roots and does not allow them to breathe properly. They need some help conserving the moisture especially when it is so hot -think about trees in the forest. They usually have a layer of decomposing leaves to protect them from heat stress. But this is a light layer, softly covering up the tree roots. Unless someone has blown leaves around, one does not see a leaf volcano up against a tree. https://www.caes.uga.edu/extension/floyd/anr/documents/Mulchcankilltrees.pdf
If you find a mulch volcano, move the mulch away from the trunk and try to expose the root flare. Make sure not to leave a low area around the tree. Instead, create a channel drain. This maple tree was planted too low. Because it was surrounded by the house on three sides, I couldn’t move the dirt and mulch away. So, the easiest thing to do was to create a hand dug (lightly to not disturb the roots) channel so when it rains/irrigation, the water will be directed away from the trunk.
- Mulch up against tree trunks – Even more damage is caused by too much mulch trapping water. This is especially seen up against tree trunks. If mulch is pulled away from the tree trunk, you will see a dark area. The dark indicates moisture. Just like anything else, too much water can contribute to rotting.
When a tree is properly planted, the root flare should be visible above ground. These larger roots do not need mulch, they need to breathe. The root flare is like a skirt where the tree starts to get wider.
- Mulch under shrubs – Although this is a very beautiful photograph, putting mulch under shrubs causes moisture to be trapped. This also contributes to rotting.
- Rubber Mulch – DO NOT use rubber mulch. Rubber mulch is a petroleum product, primarily made from shredded, recycled tires. It does not break down – it will forever change the soil with harmful chemicals. It is also very difficult to remove it once in the ground. Lastly, rubber mulch can get uncomfortably hot in direct sunlight.
The types of mulch I like are pine straw & hardwood mulch. Pine straw, however, does not last very long, so it needs to be replaced often. I usually use it away from the house as well. Hardwood mulch – natural chipped up trees is my favorite (undyed). When you can find a tree company chipping trees, this is the best!
This last photo shows a remedy for a tree’s roots that have been smothered by mulch and dirt. The root flare is exposed in the second photo, and the small feeder roots are cut. These small roots are growing in the mulch and dirt and do not contribute to the overall health of the tree.
Stay tuned for more of Suzanne’s pet peeves!
