Should You Mulch Around Trees? Yes, and Here’s Why.

Planting trees can be quite the expense in itself, so it’s no wonder people hesitate to put mulch around trees. Mulch can be costly and applying it takes a bit of work. But trust us--mulch is essential to helping new trees get the protection and nutrients they need to grow healthy and strong. Here are Tree Service York PA’s top three reasons every young tree needs mulch:

1. Trunk and Root Protection: Mulch protects the tree trunk from mowers and weed-eaters and shields the roots from foot traffic, weed and grass interference, and harsh temperature fluctuations that lead to root stress.
2. Increased Growth: Mulch encourages growth by increasing minerals and nutrients in the soil around the root system. It also helps the soil retain moisture that the roots sponge up in order to grow. Mulched trees grow almost double the speed of non-mulched trees! If that’s not motivation to mulch, what is?
3. Promotes Soil Health: In addition to trapping minerals to keep soil healthy, mulching your tree helps reduce soil erosion, keeping the top layer of nutrient-rich soil around your tree’s roots for longer.

What Kind of Mulch Is Best?
The best mulch is organic, thick, composted bark or wood chips. A bed of pine needles or leaves works well, too. Don’t use mulch made of plastics, fabrics, or moss: These types of mulches do not provide the same benefits as organic mulch.

How Much Mulch Should I Use?
Use no more than 2-4 inches of mulch, spread 3-5 feet around the perimeter of the tree. Too much mulch can actually be detrimental to your tree, encouraging disease or rot.

How to Apply Mulch Around Trees:
Remove all weeds and grass from the perimeter of your tree, about 3-5 feet outward. Apply a layer of your preferred mulch, starting a few inches out from the trunk’s base. Never pile massive amounts of mulch right up on the base of the trunk as it encourages rot. A just-right layer of mulch will improve the health of your tree the way nature intended.

To keep your mulch in tip-top shape, perform yearly upkeep: Rake back existing mulch a few feet and fill in the ring with fresh mulch.

If you have tree care questions, we have the answers at Tree Service York PA. From tree removal to planting to tree trimming services, we do it all.​