Mulching dos

Keep it 4 Deep After Settling, No Deeper. Initial organic mulching should be 3 4 deep for shrubs and trees; 1 2 for perennials. Protect Bark. Keep mulch at least 6" from the base of a tree trunk, 4 for shrubs. Break Up Matting. Before mulching a second time rake the existing mulch to break it up so water will penetrate. Spread it Out. A good mulch bed should extend out at least three feet from a tree's trunk in all directions, though much wider is better. Make it Natural. The best mulches are fairly coarse and woody, like wood chips or ground bark. Leaves, pine needles, compost, straw, and grass clippings also work fine. The coarser the mulch, the better. Include Several Trees and Shrubs. Manage plant groupings by creating mulch beds that surround several trees and shrubs to separate and easily manage tree and turf areas. Be creative you dont have to stick with a perfectly round contours. Mulch Around Established Trees. Just spread a layer of mulch over the existing grass - it will smother the grass. As the tree grows older, the mulched area should expand with the tree. On older trees, a mulched area with a diameter of 12 feet is effective and attractive. Use the Right Mulch. For poor soils, use compost under mulch to build up the nutrients. Soils that are healthy will do fine with any stable mulch (wood-chips), which doesnt break down as quickly.

Mulching donts
Not Too Deep. More than 4 inches is too much. Can cause hydrophobic layer. Very deep mulch will absorb a massive amount of water and prevent it from getting to the soil. No Volcanoes, Please. The biggest no-no when mulching is to create a mulch volcano that is six to eight inches high around the base of the tree. This results in the decay of the bark and will girdle the tree by killing the vascular tissue under the bark, foster infection, create a breeding ground for bad pathogens, and can create habitats for rodents that chew the bark. Volcano mulching also traps moisture around the tree trunk and root flare, leading to decay and, eventually, structural failure. Avoid Fine Mulch. Thick blankets of fine mulch can become matted and prevent the penetration of water and air. No Orange Mulch. Be cautious of artificially colored wood mulches, which can leach chemicals into the soil and stain concrete. Dont Let Mulch Sour. Low oxygen levels (from packed-down mulch on clay soils) creates a toxic sour mulch which may give off pungent odors, and even worse, the compounds produced (methanol and acetic acid) can kill young plants. Dont Keep Adding New Mulch on Top of the Old. While mulch does decompose, you do not want to accumulate excessive mulch year after year by adding fresh mulch every spring. If you want the look of fresh mulch, break up the old with a rake, and only add a layer of new on top if there is less than 4 inches in depth.

Dont Fertilize Over Mulch (except liquids) Granular fertilizer needs to be on soil surface to be affective. Move mulch from drip-line, feed and replace mulch.

Mulching, Dos and Donts

Benefits of mulching
Reduce labor and maintenance costs: Mulch over weeds. Weeds are composted in place Improve nutrient and water retention in the soil. Encourage favorable soil microbial activity, fungi and Earth-worms (Soil Food Web). Enhance soil structure (aggregation of soil particles) from organic glues, by-products of Soil Food Web. Improve plant vigor and health, often leading to improved resistance to pests and diseases. Helps maintain soil moisture. Evaporation is reduced, and the need for watering can be minimized. Helps control weeds. A 2- to 4-inch layer of mulch will reduce the germination and growth of weeds. Mulch serves as natures insulating blanket. Mulch keeps soils warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. Many types of mulch can improve fertility and soil aeration, and drainage over time. Mulching around trees helps facilitate maintenance and can reduce the likelihood of damage from weed whackers or the dreaded lawn mower blight. Mulch can give planting beds a uniform, well-cared-for look. Mulching takes large quantities of organic matter out of our waste stream. Lets us recycle nutrients on-sight. Saving shipping costs and energy of off-sight composting.

Mulch as Nature Applies it

Trees growing in a natural forest environment have their roots anchored in a rich, well-aerated soil full of essential nutrients. The soil is blanketed by leaves and organic materials that replenish nutrients and provide an optimal environment for root growth and mineral uptake. Urban landscapes, however, are typically a much harsher environment with poor soils, little organic matter, and large fluctuations in temperature and moisture. Applying a 2- to 4-inch layer of organic mulch can mimic a more natural environment and improve plant health. The root system of a tree is not a mirror image of the top. The roots of most trees can extend out a significant distance from the tree trunk. Although the guideline for many maintenance practices is to the drip linethe outermost extension of the canopythe roots can grow many times that distance and typically not more than a foot deep. In addition, most of the fine, absorbing roots are located within inches of the soil surface. These roots, which are essential for taking up water and minerals, require oxygen to survive. A thin layer of mulch, applied as broadly as practical, can improve the soil structure, oxygen levels, temperature, and moisture availability where these roots grow. Read more at Suite101: How to Mulch Your Trees and Shrubs: Put Down Mulching Material the Right Way http://www.suite101.com/content/how-to-mulch-your-trees-and-shrubsa88762#ixzz0zffq3aqS