How, Where, And Why To Use Arborist Mulch
The Benefits Of Using Tree Mulch The Right Way
Within the past year, more and more people have been taking up new hobbies based around home improvement. DIY gardening, planting, and landscaping projects are all showing a resurgence since so many more people have been staying at home more.
As we all develop more interest in shifting toward more natural, organic, and sustainable solutions to everyday problems, the use of arborist mulch (tree mulch) is becoming increasingly popular.
Of course, as arborist mulch becomes more popular, people have a lot of questions about how well tree mulch actually works, what benefits it can offer, and whether or not it is safe to use. To address some of these questions, we have prepared a short guide to mulch and how to use it effectively around your home.
We imagine that you probably want to get to working on your home, so let’s get started!
What Is Arborist Mulch?
Mulch is made of plant materials and is used to help plants grow. Unlike its close cousin, compost, mulch is made of organic matter that has not yet been broken down. Since an arborist is someone who specializes in tree work, you may imagine that arborist mulch is usually made up of stuff from trees, like bark, leaves, and other raw wood materials.
If you are interested in learning more about the differences between mulch and compost, we found this guide from Backyard Boss useful.
The Benefits Of Arborist Tree Mulch
Arborist mulch is slightly different than some of the commercial tree mulches you may find at your big hardware store or gardening center. Many of these mulches are made from one type of tree in particular, such as red cedars. These types of mulch may have some applications where they are ideal, but in general, a little more diversity in your mulch will offer your plants a wider variety of nutrients.
One of the interesting things about mulch, in general, is that it is planted above ground and breaks down slowly. As it breaks down, nitrogen is released and a new layer of topsoil is created. The slow breakdown creates more healthy and sustainable soil.
Advantages Of Using Arborist Mulch:
- Minimizes Evaporation
- Creates Healthy Topsoil
- Decreases The Need For Irrigation
- Protects Trees, Shrubs & Other Plants
- Protects Against Damage From Drought
- Moderates The Temperature Of The Soil
- Provides Healthy Decay And Fungus To Soil
- Mimics The Natural Conditions Where Trees Thrive
- Suppresses Weed Growth Without The Use Of Chemicals
Where To Get Arborist Wood Chips Near Me
Maybe the best news about arborist mulch is that often you can get it for free. If you know of an arborist or arborist company that does work in your neighborhood, they often are more than happy to get rid of mulch that they may otherwise end up throwing away.
Of course, if you have an arborist who already does work around your home, they would probably be the best person to ask. If you don’t have luck getting free mulch from your local arborist, some arborist companies sell bags of mulch.
If you are just using mulch for the first time, it can be beneficial to hire an arborist to help you out. A good arborist will offer their expertise and obviously save you some work too.
Is Free Mulch Safe?
The short answer to this question is usually yes. Like anything else, you want to choose where you get your mulch from with a little bit of common sense. Turn to an arborist with a good reputation.
There are some concerns that you may want to think about. You want to avoid using mulch made from diseased or infected trees. A responsible arborist would not give you bad mulch, so as long as you are receiving your tree mulch from someone you can trust, free mulch is perfectly safe.
Tips For Using Arborist Mulch The Right Way
When you are using mulch around a tree the most intuitive things to do may not be the best choices. Rather than starting at the base of the tree and surrounding it with mulch, you actually would be better off starting your circle of mulch away from the tree and moving in toward the base. You also want to leave some distance between the mulch and the tree - at least 2”.
Some Pointers For Laying Down Tree Mulch:
- Lay Down Your Mulch Above The Soil
- Apply A Layer Of Mulch That Is About 2 Inches Deep
- Leave At Least 2 Inches of Space Between Mulch & Any Trees Or Shrubs
- Start Applying Mulch Away From The Base & Move Toward The Tree/Shrub
What Is Volcano Mulching?
Picture the base of a tree with a mound of mulch piled right against it. It will look like a small volcano with a giant tree erupting out of it. This is not good. This will damage your tree. It will condense the roots and prevent the tree from absorbing moisture properly.
Don’t do it.
As we said before, leave at least 2 inches of space between your mulch and your tree.
Where Can I Learn More?
We hope that this information was helpful and that you are now closer to getting your next home improvement project started. This guide was intended to point you in the right direction. However, there is a lot of other good information out there. The number one best way to make sure that you are giving your trees and plants the best care is by hiring a tree specialist to help you out.
