The Proper Way to Mulch Around Trees Avoid the ‘Volcano Method’ Fresh mulch around the base of a tree is the finishing touch that makes many yards look beautiful. But the way many people go about the process isn’t always wise. Appropriately done, mulching around trees can encourage their health and longevity, but an incorrect technique can ultimately do more harm than good.
Although our kids return to school soon, there’s still plenty of time to get outside and enjoy the warm weather with them. While trips to the zoo, park, or
an outdoor sporting event can be fun for everyone involved, not everyone has the means to go regularly.
Thankfully, there are many activities you and your kids
can enjoy from the comfort of your own backyard without having
to spend any additional money.
Here are a few activities to try the next time your kids want to play outside. Run a race. Kids love to run around, and you should use that to your advantage. Devise different race ideas to keep them running until they’re tired and need to rest. You can have them race normally, backward, or crab-walking. You can gather hula hoops and other objects from around the house to set up an obstacle course and see who can finish it the fastest. Break out the water. There are all kinds of different games you can enjoy that involve water. Water guns and water balloons can keep kids entertained for hours if you have them. If not, you can still create an outdoor water park for your children with your hose and a sprinkler. Put them in their bathing suits and allow them to run through the sprinkler or have a good old-fashioned water fight using the hose and buckets of water. All you need is a ball. It’s crazy how much you can do in your backyard with nothing more than a single ball. You can play catch or up the competitiveness with a game of monkey in the middle. If you have chalk and enough players, you can play a game of foursquare. You can even play baseball if you have a bat or a decent-sized stick. One ball gives you countless opportunities for fun. Give some of these activities a try the next time your kids say they’re bored and want to do something exciting outside. They may discover a new favorite way to pass the time.
Mulching around trees has numerous benefits. Organic mulch acts as a slow-release fertilizer. Over time, it breaks down, enriches the soil, and provides necessary nutrients to the tree. Mulch also protects the dirt from the sun’s harsh rays and helps retain moisture. Meanwhile, weeds are less likely to grow where mulch covers the ground. Further, mulch is an excellent insulator against harmful temperatures. Mulch can prevent the soil around your trees from becoming too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. Considering the low price point and simple maintenance, the benefits of mulching far outweigh the downsides. But properly mulching is essential. The mulch surrounding your trees should be, at most, 3 inches in height. It’s also crucial that the mulch does not touch the tree trunk. Mulchers should leave an empty ring around the tree’s base so it has room to breathe and doesn’t grow mold or mildew. Unfortunately, many homeowners do the opposite by piling a giant mound of mulch around their trees. It’s called the “volcano method.” Despite its popularity and pleasing appearance, the volcano method only hurts your yard by causing rot around the tree’s base. Piling new mulch on top of old each year also poses a problem. The old mulch compresses, and the tree treats it as part of the soil. The roots begin growing in the above-ground mulch, which is both unhealthy and unattractive. If performing your own mulching is too confusing or time-consuming, the landscape experts at Anthony’s Lawn Care and Landscaping are here to help. We can also help homeowners address the problems that previous years of over-mulching caused. We aim to give you an effortlessly gorgeous landscape, so call us for a free quote today!
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