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Why You Should Mulch around Trees

Benefits of mulching around trees

Like mulching just about anywhere else, it will provide a host of benefits to your trees. One benefit is that it will decompose over time and release nutrients into the soil that will help the tree grow. Aside from providing nutrients, it will also keep the soil warm and moist which is also beneficial to a growing tree. The reason you want to keep the soil warmer, is partially so it will help the soil retain more moisture. Assuming water is not pooling up excessively around the base of the tree, it will not harm the tree to have some extra moisture in the soil.

Mulching around a growing tree creates somewhat of a microclimate in the area that you spread mulch and can make a big difference in the overall health of the tree. Another important benefit mulch will provide is that it will not allow any weeds to grow around the base of the tree. This is important for the growth of a tree, especially a young one, because roots of weeds will potentially outcompete the roots of the tree for water and nutrients causing the tree to not grow like it would without the presence of weeds.

How to mulch around trees

First spread it at least four or five inches thick, in a circle all the way around the tree. Start from the base of the trunk and go outwards at least a foot or two. After spreading the mulch out to this standard, you will want to scrape it away from the base of the tree (at least 6 inches). If it is too close it can cause the trunk to rot. This will quickly kill a young tree. Check on it once in awhile to make sure wind or rain has not caused the mulch to shift and be pushed against the trunk.

What kind of mulch to use

When considering what kind of mulch to use around the base of a tree, there are a few things to consider. One of the more important factors is whether or not you use an organic material. There are some plastic mulches out there that look like wood chips so make sure you are using real wood chips if you want the added benefits of an organic material. As previously mentioned, organic materials provide a few extra benefits that non-organic mulches do not, so I would highly recommend using a mulch such as wood chips. They will last a long time, and you will not have to constantly replenish them like you would if you chose to use grass clippings as opposed to wood chips.

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Using Mulch in a Garden

Benefits of mulching in a garden

Aside from the nutritional benefits mulch can potentially provide to plants in your garden, a big benefit is the suppression of weed growth. If you apply just a few inches of mulch to your garden after your vegetables have grown a little bit, it will prevent weeds from sprouting up and stealing nutrients from your vegetables. Another benefit of using mulch in your garden, is that it will help the soil stay moist and prevent excess water evaporation that would normally occur without using mulch. Assuming you are using a mulch made of organic material, such as compost or grass clippings, it will break down over time and release nutrients to help maintain the health of your soil.

Mulching with grass clippings

You can use your grass clippings from mowing your lawn, provided you do not chemically treat your lawn, in your garden for a multitude of benefits. If you spread a thin layer of grass clippings in your garden, it will break down over time and release the nitrogen and potassium it holds into the soil. In addition to adding nutrients, it will also attract animals like toads. They like to hide within the grass clippings and will help them be more prevalent in your garden than they were before. These animals will also benefit your garden by helping control pests like slugs and insects that would normally turn your vegetables into food for themselves instead of food for you! These are just a few reasons to use grass clippings as mulch in your garden, and once you do it hopefully you will quickly notice all the benefits that using grass as mulch can provide to your plants.

Mulching with compost

Unlike grass clippings as mulch, using compost as mulch will help suppress the growth of weeds in your garden. To use compost as mulch in your garden, it is best to till some into the soil at the beginning of your planting season. You will also want to add a layer that is a few inches thick once your garden is established. This will help the soil stay warm and moist, it will also provide a continuous source of organic material that releases plenty of nutrients for growing vegetables. Mulching with compost, is arguable the most effective kind of mulching you can do in a garden. The various benefits it provides outnumber just about every other kind of medium you might consider using as mulch in your garden.

Mulching with wood chips

Similar to using compost, wood chips will help your garden stay free of weeds that steal nutrients and sunlight from your vegetables. They will also decompose over time and release organic nutrients that will help your plants grow better. However, if this is a benefit you are looking to have in your garden, you will be much better off using compost instead of woodchips. The compost will release much more beneficial nutrients when compared to using wood chips as mulch. Maintaining healthy and moist soil is one of the most important things for a vegetable garden to produce vegetables that are plentiful and large, so using mulch that is made of an organic material like wood chips will not hurt. Provided you do not spread them too thick, only a few inches is necessary, your plants will thank you for helping them grow big and strong!