Mulching is one of the best things you can do for your trees and flower beds. Mulch is rich in nutrients, retards weed growth, and helps your plants and trees retain valuable moisture.
You start by clearing weeds, grass, and other vegetation around the base of the tree, then you spread mulch in a circle about 3 to 4 inches thick. Finish by lightly watering the mulch to help it settle against the soil.
Sounds easy, but it’s important to do it right. Knowing how to mulch around trees helps you protect them against drought, adds nutrients, and promotes strong root growth.
Steps for spreading mulch around trees
Applying mulch to your trees the right way can be broken down into a few simple steps. As long as you follow them, you should be able to enrich your tree without doing harm to it by mistake. Follow the steps below to properly apply mulch to your tree:
Step 1: Clear around the base of the tree
Rake away any leaves, rocks, excess dirt, and old mulch. Move any decorations, and just generally ensure that the base of your tree is clear of anything you don’t want buried under mulch.
Step 2: Prune the base
The next step is to get rid of any weeds growing at the base of the tree. You can use either a gardening claw or a shovel to remove them. This step is very important, as any weeds remaining will be competition for the tree, and will leech moisture and nutrients away.
Step 3: Create an outline for your mulch
Your mulch should extend out 3-4 feet from the trunk of the tree in all directions, slightly more for very large shade trees. Measure that distance from the trunk, and mark the circle with a shovel or spade.
Step 4: Dig out existing grass and weeds
Dig out all existing vegetation within your mulch circle – grass, sod, weeds.
Step 5: Edge your mulch circle (optional)
In most cases, you’ll want a barrier between the mulch and your lawn. This barrier keeps the mulch in place against rain and wind, but it also creates a sharp, attractive contrast between your landscaped areas and your lawn.
You have a lot of options for this – from wooden boards to bricks to dozens of brands of plastic landscaping edging. Need help? Check out 11 Lawn Edging Ideas
Step 6: Spread your mulch
When mulching, follow the 3-3-3 rule. Your mulch should extend three feet from the base of the tree, should be three inches deep, and you should leave a three-inch gap between the trunk and the mulch. Never let the mulch touch the trunk of the tree.
See How Deep Should Mulch Be for more.
Step 7: Water
Water your mulch lightly to help it settle against the soil. Don’t drown it. You don’t want it to become too compacted.
Mulching mistakes to avoid
To get the most out of your mulching project, avoid these common mistakes:
Volcano mulching: This is perhaps the most common and harmful mistake – creating a deep cone of mulch against the trunk that promotes disease and decay.
Mulching too deeply: Many people apply 6-plus inches of mulch when 2-4 inches is optimal.
Mulching against the trunk: The trunk needs to breathe, so keeping that 3-4 inch gap is essential.
Using inappropriate materials: Not all mulch materials are suitable for trees. See our section below on how to choose mulch.
Insufficient Coverage Area: Many people create mulch rings that are far too small to benefit the tree’s entire root system.
Forgetting to Refresh: Mulch breaks down over time and needs regular replenishment.
Mixing Mulch into Soil: Mulch should sit on top of the soil, not be incorporated into it.
What is the best mulch to put around trees?
The best mulch to spread around trees is organic mulch like wood chips, shredded bark, compost, or pine needles. These options provide several benefits:
- Wood chips or shredded bark are excellent choices because they break down slowly, improving soil structure while suppressing weeds
- Compost adds nutrients as it decomposes
- Pine needles work well for acid-loving trees
For best results, try to match the type of tree the mulch came from to the type of tree you’re applying it to. For example, get coniferous wood chips for a coniferous tree, hardwood wood chips for a hardwood tree, and so on.
Avoid inorganic mulches like shredded rubber, which can heat up and actually put more stress on tree roots. Avoid rocks as well, as the weight can compact the soil around trees and inhibit water and oxygen from getting through to roots.
When to mulch
The best time to mulch around trees varies depending on factors like your local climate, the type of mulch you’re using, and the tree in question.
However, on average, the best time of year to apply mulch to trees is mid to late spring. Any sooner can prevent the soil from warming properly, which can harm your trees.
FAQ about mulching around trees
Yes, you can. Almost any organic matter can become mulch, so save your leaves and use them to help your garden beds and trees grow.
Mushrooms on your mulch could mean the mulch is too moist and the soil below is not moist enough. Mushrooms grow on just about anything that has enough moisture and nutrients and doesn’t get a lot of sunlight. Rake your mulch to break it up and allow trapped moisture to escape.
Find a gardening pro
Knowing how to apply mulch around your trees can make them grow bigger and healthier if done right. However, you should always take care and mulch properly to avoid harming the tree.
If you don’t want to deal with tree care, contact lawn care professionals near you. They can mulch for you so you know it’s done right.
Main Image Credit: Jen Wolf | Adobe Stock Free | License
