Mulch question

[HomeTurf]

When laying mulch around a tree do you mound it up against the trunk or just have it barely touching the bottom? I think i read before on another post that they were making fun of the "volcanoe' jobs and that it was the wrong way to do it, but couldnt find it again using the search.

[pow]

Do not mound up against tree. Anything that grows above the ground, stays above ground.

[HomeTurf]

Thanks pow thats what i thought but just wanted a second opinion

[ScienceGuy]

Trees must displace air out near the bark line (where the roots start) to take up water. Remember when you place your finger over one end of a straw in a drink- if you lift it up it will hold the fluid. Actually the fluid will not flow unless air is allowed in the top end. Covering the roots firmly will not allow water up the tree because air can't move at the bark line. Common acceptable practice is to doughnut the tree allowing the doughtnut hole of mulch to be where the trunk is. Tree drowning occurs when a lack of allowable air movement at the base stops the flow of fluids up the tree.

[dpld]

Trees must displace air out near the bark line (where the roots start) to take up water. Remember when you place your finger over one end of a straw in a drink- if you lift it up it will hold the fluid. Actually the fluid will not flow unless air is allowed in the top end. Covering the roots firmly will not allow water up the tree because air can't move at the bark line. Common acceptable practice is to doughnut the tree allowing the doughtnut hole of mulch to be where the trunk is. Tree drowning occurs when a lack of allowable air movement at the base stops the flow of fluids up the tree.

i beg to differ on that opinion, piling mulch around the base of the tree causes unwanted root growth to form on the bark as well as causes root collar damage in the form of rot.

trees pull water from the roots throughout the tree by means of transpirational pull, which is when the tree is at full foliage and the sun heats up said foliage the stomata and guard cells open up and release water vapors which causes a siphon effect and causes water movement in the vascular system.
the bark of the tree needs air in order to let it dry out and not cause any fungal problems and rot which is a invitation to disease and host specific insects.

either way we agree that piling mulch around the base of a tree is bad and this especially holds true in the acer family ( maples) which are notorious for girdiling roots.

[inxy]

When laying mulch around a tree do you mound it up against the trunk or just have it barely touching the bottom? I think i read before on another post that they were making fun of the "volcanoe' jobs and that it was the wrong way to do it, but couldnt find it again using the search.

Just barely toughing. Actually the books say do not place bark against tree trunks or bases of anything. The dampness of the bark leads to plant problems.

[springscapes]

Good advice!

[ritchiem]

always make sure to not mound the mulch around the trunk. It will promote rot.