How to Do Tree Mulching Right
In many cases, it’s tricky to tell what’s too much, not enough or just right for our trees. Take tree mulching, for example. Not only is this a must for proper tree maintenance, but it also helps with the excellent look of your exterior. However, keep in mind that when mulch is too high and touches a tree’s trunk, it causes problems rather than helping your trees.
Let’s look at what can happen when you apply mulch that’s too thick around trees.
When is mulch around trees bad?
To be clear, mulch is excellent for trees (when it’s applied correctly by a tree contractor or at least someone with the right experience and knowledge). Mulch conserves moisture, reduces weeds, and improves the soil, which helps your trees to stay healthy!
But a common mistake people make when it comes to mulch is to have too much of it. People with no experience try to have too much of a good thing, but little do they know that piling mulch too high and covering a tree’s trunk, also known as “volcano tree mulching,” can cause decay.
Let’s have a closer look into two Problems caused by mulch that is too thick.
When mulch sits too close to a tree’s trunk, it causes two main issues that can slowly damage your tree over time.
1st problem: Too much mulch smothers the tree’s roots.
The roots will grow up through the mulch in search of air, which can cause them to “girdle” or wrap around the trunk. Later on, this would choke the tree by cutting off its water supply.
2nd problem: Moisture builds up.
The excess moisture between the trunk and mulch volcano creates perfect conditions for wood decay diseases, like fungi. Also, deteriorating bark at the tree base can lead to an unstable foundation.
Luckily, preventing these problems is as easy as tree mulching the right way. If you, however, need a professional tree service that includes mulching, you can always get in touch with JP Tree Service LLC, a company that is operating in and around the Upper Darby, PA area to help you with all your tree-related needs.