F.A.Q.s

Q: Why does your nursery adamantly recommend mulching the trees after planting, when I’ve heard that some landscapers say mulching will prevent the tree from “breathing”?

We always recommend mulching a tree because of the numerous benefits the tree gets from the much. Mulching your tree conserves moisture and reduces the need for water by slowing down its surface evaporation. Mulch helps insulate, not suffocate, the tree’s root ball, which improves uniform soil temperatures and benefits bacteria, earthworms, and fungi that help keep the soil alive. In addition, mulching your tree helps prevent weed growth and soil erosion. Mulching can actually help protect the tree’s trunks too, as lawn mowers won’t be tempted to mow close to the tree…since you wouldn’t mow over mulch. Lastly, mulching your tree actually results in better root activity and faster growth of the tree, while providing an aesthetic looking value to your yard. With that said, we never recommend more than 3 inches of mulch over the tops of planted root balls. Piling the mulch too high around the tree’s trunk can unintentionally make a home for disease-causing organisms and insect pests.