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A client in Asheville told me my mulch volcanoes were killing his trees
He pointed out how I was piling it 8 inches high against the trunks, saying it was causing rot and girdling roots. I looked it up that night and he was totally right, so now I keep it flat and 3 inches from the base. Anyone else have a simple tip they learned the hard way?
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nelson.vera5mo ago
I've seen plenty of trees thrive with that mulch setup in my area. Sometimes the issue is poor soil or disease, not just the mulch ring. Blake might feel guilty, but I don't think it's always that simple.
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rowan_wells305mo ago
Ever wonder how many trees we've all slowly murdered with good intentions? I saw a landscaper do the volcano thing at a bank last week and almost said something. What's the worst damage you've seen from a common practice like that, like a tree that was clearly rotting or had roots strangling it above the mulch?
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maxf335mo ago
My neighbor's oak had a three-inch deep mulch volcano for years. The bark at the base was completely soft and spongy, just rotting away. You could peel it off with your fingers. The worst part was the girdling roots circling the trunk above the mulch, cutting off its own water supply. It looked healthy from a distance but was basically being choked out.
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