Caring For Your Tree: Mulch Benefits

If you are a newcomer when it comes to caring for your tree, mulch benefits should not be undersold as they can save you time and money and create the conditions in which your tree can flourish. Before choosing a mulch consider what type of tree mulch is best, how to utilize it, and what to watch out for so you don’t overdo it.

Different Types of Tree Mulch

The best kind of tree mulch is wood chip mulch as opposed to animal dung or any material that has not been properly composted. If you wish to use animal dung along with your chosen type of tree mulch, your tree will be best served by the dung of herbivores and not carnivores as they consume the very same food that trees do, though in different form. The minerals and nutrients that herbivores do not digest are exactly the sort of materials your tree consumes and are already partially broken down and easier for your tree to utilize. However, if you find yourself neither needing nor wanting to use herbivore dung, then sticking solely with wood chip mulch is probably the best call. It decomposes slowly, keeps weeds at bay and maintains soil moisture and temperature making it ideal for mulching around the tree.

How to Spread Tree Mulch

Before spreading the wood chips make sure the mulch has reached the status of what’s called finished compost. This means that it has decomposed outside for about two years and has been rotated regularly to avoid odor buildup. Its faded grey color when it reaches this stage will tell you it’s ready to be spread. Late spring is the best time to spread tree mulch as the soil has had the chance to warm. If you choose to use any sort of fertilizer or other minerals, you need not worry about removing the tree mulch to apply it. Simply spread the fertilizer around on the top of the mulch and the materials will eventually seep down into the soil. When spreading the mulch use enough to get a thickness of about two to four inches.Spread it evenly around the expanding root system, usually from three to six feet out from the base of the tree. Leave three to five inches of space between the mulch and the base of the tree.

If you do not leave this three-to-five-inch gap between the mulch and the tree base, you could be exposing your tree to harm. Leaving this space prevents mold and fungal growth which occur due to excess moisture buildup at the base. It also helps to prevent insect infestation and disease from affecting the bark and base of your tree. Maintain 2 to 4 inches of mulch around your tree to keep it thriving.