Proper mulching protects your plants and saves America’s cypress swamps
If your idea of mulching is piling a thick mound of wood chips (or, horror of horrors, shredded tires, which won’t decompose until long after you do) against the bases of your trees and plants, you’re doing more harm than good. That’s because one of the goals of mulching is to protect and nourish the fragile fibrous root system that begins at the canopy drip line, which starts where raindrops meet the ground after they roll off the plant’s foliage and extends outward from there. “When you pile mulch up around the base of the plant,” explains Tchukki Andersen, staff arborist at the Tree Care Industry Association, “you increase the potential for insect and disease problems.” Instead, says Andersen, put down a two- to four-inch layer of mulch, starting at the drip line and working inward to control weeds and retain moisture. Leave at least a six-inch diameter around the trunk mulch-free to promote air circulation, which helps prevent rot.
Make young, newly planted trees your highest priority. The smaller they are, the more help they need to establish their roots, and mulch provides a blanket as well as a midnight snack. Repeat the process in the spring to ensure your plants retain adequate nutrients and water during their growth phase. Andersen recommends using wood chips from local tree species, usually available at nurseries, to decrease the risk of importing disease.
