I was wrong about mulching around tree trunks

I used to pile mulch high, but it caused rot. Now I keep it away from the base to let the bark breathe.

3 comments

3 Comments

Saw that happen to my friend's maple tree... they had this perfect volcano of mulch that looked so tidy. All it did was trap moisture and hide those girdling roots until the whole thing started leaning. Took years off that tree's life for sure.

ryanm451mo ago

Read that mulch volcanoes are a common mistake in suburban landscaping. They create a wet environment that rots the bark and strangles the roots. It's sad how many trees die from such a simple error.

susan_brown801mo ago

Watched my neighbor pile it high because it looks tidy, which is exactly what @ryanm45 described keeps happening.