Mulch

Posted by Van Chocstraw on October 17, 2009, 10:47 am

Can bark mulch kill or turn fur tree branches brown?

Posted by norminn@earthlink.net on October 17, 2009, 11:07 am

Van Chocstraw wrote:

> Can bark mulch kill or turn fur tree branches brown?

Bark mulch is too light, imo, to harm a tree unless it is piled very
deeply over the root zone and up to the trunk. I don't know particulars
of pines except that there are common diseases that can kill them. I'd
ask, or take pictures and a sample, to local extension service.

Posted by Tony on October 17, 2009, 11:47 am

Van Chocstraw wrote:

> Can bark mulch kill or turn fur tree branches brown?

I would doubt it. Although the most common mistake people make with
mulch is to pile it high around the trunk. That makes a perfect place
for insects to boar into the bark and that can kill the tree. Mulch
should not touch the base of the trunk.

Posted by on October 17, 2009, 12:40 pm

> Van Chocstraw wrote:

> > Can bark mulch kill or turn fur tree branches brown?

> I would doubt it. =A0Although the most common mistake people make with
> mulch is to pile it high around the trunk. =A0That makes a perfect place
> for insects to boar into the bark and that can kill the tree. =A0Mulch
> should not touch the base of the trunk.

Are people doing the volcano pile high mulch thing everywhere now?
Here in NJ it's become the common thing over the last decade or so.
I attributed it to nyc folks who don;t know any better and have been
migrating here in droves.

Lately I've noticed another factor. In new construciton, I've seen 7
ft trees planted with the huge mulch volcanoes, at least a foot
high. Turns out, the trees were planted without much of a hole.
Looks like a half-assed way to avoid digging the proper hole. And by
the time the tree dies, it isn't there problem anymore.

To answer the OP question, no reason mulch about 3" thick or so should
harm any tree, unless it's mulch that was made out of something toxic.

Posted by Van Chocstraw on October 17, 2009, 12:47 pm

trader4@optonline.net wrote:

>> Van Chocstraw wrote:

>>> Can bark mulch kill or turn fur tree branches brown?

>> I would doubt it. Although the most common mistake people make with
>> mulch is to pile it high around the trunk. That makes a perfect place
>> for insects to boar into the bark and that can kill the tree. Mulch
>> should not touch the base of the trunk.

>
> Are people doing the volcano pile high mulch thing everywhere now?
> Here in NJ it's become the common thing over the last decade or so.
> I attributed it to nyc folks who don;t know any better and have been
> migrating here in droves.
>
> Lately I've noticed another factor. In new construciton, I've seen 7
> ft trees planted with the huge mulch volcanoes, at least a foot
> high. Turns out, the trees were planted without much of a hole.
> Looks like a half-assed way to avoid digging the proper hole. And by
> the time the tree dies, it isn't there problem anymore.
>
> To answer the OP question, no reason mulch about 3" thick or so should
> harm any tree, unless it's mulch that was made out of something toxic.

My reason was so I wouldn't have to mow under the branches which are low
to the ground. Keeps the grass and weeds from growing under there.

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