Why you shouldn’t make this big mistake when mulching around trees

September is the ideal month to start thinking about mulching, but if you’re going to be mulching around trees as well as your beds and borders, avoid making the ‘mulch volcano' mistake. 

Experts warn this trend, where mulch is mounded high against the base of a tree to create a neat and uniform look, can do more harm than good.

So what is it about this method that makes it a tree mulching mistake? 'A mountain of mulch, piled high against a tree trunk will not kill it immediately,' says Martha Smith, a horticulturist and former horticulture educator at the University of Illinois Extension. 

'Rather, it is a slow death, and homeowners don’t associate their actions with tree decline several years after they over-mulched a tree.'

Why you need to avoid this mulching mistake

Landscaping around trees with mulch can offer benefits, but if done incorrectly or too much mulch is used, Martha Smith advises it can lead to problems.

Piling mulch onto the bark exposes it to dark and moisture, says Martha. 'The bark will start to rot, and rotted bark cannot protect the tree from insects and diseases, which grow better in this type of environment.' 

If mulch is too heavy, it can deprive the roots of oxygen and reduce the soil’s ability to dry out. The mulch will also produce heat which will over-protect the tree and prevent its natural cycle of preparing for the seasons. 

Plus, too much mulch promotes the growth of secondary tree roots which encircle the trunk and can choke the tree’s vital main roots.

Martha Smith

Martha Smith is a horticulturalist and former horticulture educator at the University of Illinois Extension. She was one of six extension horticulture educators who travelled the state, leading Master Gardener trainings and other horticulture programs. Martha's area of specialization was ornamentals. She is also a certified arborist.

Mulch does matter when used correctly

Used correctly, mulch helps the soil transition between seasons and can bring benefits such as improving quality and helping to get rid of weeds. 

Mulches come in handy as they suppress new weed growth, help hold moisture in, make the garden or pots look tidy and depending on what you use, can also feed the soil. It's a great idea to know the right time to mulch flower beds and that mulching a vegetable garden can give you better, healthier crops come harvest time. 

Using the right materials

Natural leaf droppings gathered from woodlands or your garden cost nothing and makes an amazing mulch. 

To learn how to make leaf mold, simply leave leaf mulch in loosely tied bags for a year or so to degrade and when you apply it to your soil it will appear to disappear in no time. 

FAQs

Other organic mulches include wood chips, pine needles, hardwood or softwood bark and cocoa hulls. Some organic mulches decompose quicker than others, however. Be warned; mulches of evergreen leaves, such as cypress, take years to break down and can look unsightly.