How Does Mulching Help Prevent Tree Diseases?
The Correlation between Mulching and Tree Disease
Mulching a tree is an affordable and easy way to give it a healthy boost and to protect it from unnecessary harm. By properly utilizing mulch your trees will thank you by growing stronger and more resilient. Mulch acts as a barrier to keep the soil, roots, and trees safe. It enriches the soil by releasing organic materials as it breaks down, providing carbon and additional nutrients.
When used incorrectly, mulch can have negative effects. If not placed properly, it can have the opposite effect of many of its typical benefits. Mulch against the trunk allows moisture to build and could allow disease or decay to spread. Too much mulch buildup can create girdling roots around the trunk. By paying close attention to how your mulch is placed, you can increase the benefits and avoid any negatives.
How to Mulch Around Your Tree Correctly
A simple and easy guideline for mulching a tree is the 3-3-3 rule. When applying mulch around a tree the mulch should be at least 3” away from the trunk, no more than 3” thick, and in a 3’ radius surrounding the tree. As trees get larger, the mulch ring should expand with the size of the tree.
Amateur landscapers and arborists may make common mistakes like creating a “volcano” of mulch around the trunk of the tree. When the base of a trunk is buried in mulch, it stays moist for much longer, which could lead to rot or damage. For most tree species trunks should be dry a majority of the time. Mulch volcanoes can also impact the root system. Roots can grow inside of these piles of mulch, which reduces the spread of roots underground and can create stem girdling roots. This strangling of the tree prevents it from getting proper nutrients from the soil in the area. When your mulch has been applied using the proper technique, it will protect your roots during lawn maintenance, help regulate the moisture in the soil, and reduce or stop the growth of grass and weeds.
Preventing Tree Disease
Mulch assists with moisture retention by slowing down evaporation. The organic layer of protection helps ensure that the roots stay cooler and don’t dry out as quickly during the hotter months. Mulch regulates the temperature during winter too and is especially beneficial for younger trees or newly planted trees.
Weeds growing at the base of a tree can cause a variety of issues. As the weeds get taller they will require more water, taking from the tree’s nearby water supply. Thick weeds are also a breeding ground for pests, which can lead to insect or disease spread. Mulch reduces weed growth around the trunk. By mulching the ground around your tree, you can reduce soil compaction. Foot traffic, low organic matter and heavy precipitation can compact the soil, restricting the flow of oxygen and the potential for root growth. Mulch can also help slow water runoff, which helps prevent nutrients from being washed away. Mulch also enriches the soil beneath it. As the mulch breaks down the carbon and nutrients enter into the soil and provide additional benefits for the tree and soil microbes. As the soil becomes richer, it can hold more water, benefitting the root system.
How Tree Disease and Root Disease Occur
Pathogens are living microorganisms, such as fungi, that spread disease. Damage to a tree allows pathogens to get inside and for disease to spread quickly. When a tree goes through a drought it can reduce natural tree defenses making the tree vulnerable and more difficult to fend off disease.
Diseases in tree roots can spread to nearby trees of the same species or genus, which can lead to a many unhealthy trees. Trees that are growing near each other share soil, nutrients, and water. Trees of the same species can connect their roots, and if disease spreads, it can cause health problems for both of them. Adding an excessive amount of mulch incorrectly around a tree can lead to health issues and even death. Trees with root damage are also very susceptible to root diseases. Be mindful of digging near trees in your yard, and call Joseph Tree for a consultation on root obstruction or removal. Rotting wood is caused by decay fungi that can sometimes spread throughout the tree and can be dangerous when branches become weak and break off.
The Best Time to Mulch
When your tree has no mulch around it, the best time to mulch is as soon as possible. If your tree already has mulch around it, the best time to reapply mulch is once the existing mulch is approximately 75% decomposed. The goal is to keep the mulch layer approximately 2-3” deep without it building up over time. Additionally, instead of planning to mulch based on a date, it’s best to pay attention to the weather and the moisture state of the soil. We mulch to protect the trees and prevent disease, so keep these conditions in mind before you mulch around your trees!
During summertime, mulch isn’t necessary, however, it can provide some benefits. Mulch can protect the roots of a tree during heat waves by keeping the soil cooler and increasing moisture retention in the soil. Adding mulch in Winter is typically reserved as a means to protect newly planted trees and help their smaller root systems stay warm. Joseph Tree specializes in tree care and nutrition and prevent tree disease from occurring.
Using Soil and Mulch
Trees require oxygen, water, light, and organic nutrients in order to grow healthy and sustain a long life. A major factor at play is the roots and their environment. Roots absorb water and nutrients to supply the tree with food allowing it to continue maturing. When a tree isn’t able to receive proper nutrients disease more easily spreads.
Root rot can occur when the soil is too compact, not letting enough oxygen in and keeping the moisture too dry, or too moist. When the soil is too dry roots have more difficulty absorbing the nutrients to feed the tree. When the soil experiences a constant flow of water, it may be void of nutrients that have been washed away. Even if your mulch is being applied mainly for visual benefits, you should still follow the standard guidelines to protect it. Any tree that has a trunk buried in mulch is susceptible to rot and disease.
Joseph Tree offers site inspections to determine factors like the health of your tree, the nutrient density of your soil, and can inspect your roots to be certain they are healthy.
Local Tree Care Providers
Joseph Tree is a locally owned and operated team of arborists. What began as two brothers with a love of nature turned into a professionally trained team of arborists working together to take care of Central Ohio trees. We bring knowledge from experience and a range of certifications to offer a range of helpful services to our clients.
Looking after trees is a big undertaking, and homeowners should know they have resources available to help them. While a tree can look perfectly healthy, knowing the signs of rot, disease, or other problems allows you to save the tree before the problem is too widespread. Contact Joseph Tree today to learn more about how we can help you!
Tree Maintenance Services
We provide a wide range of services so we can put our expertise to use for all of our clients. We handle tree removal, tree trimming, tree care plans, stump removal, soil analysis, commercial tree services, tree planting, and more. Reach out to schedule an inspection or consultation or to get a quote!