Soil Conditions If you are caring for an established tree, soil conditions are probably something you have little control over. But check the soil around the tree periodically. Is it compacted? If so, a tree care expert can advise and perhaps work with compacted soil to aerate it. Tree roots have a better chance to spread more and stay healthy in aerated soil. But the less disturbance at base of a tree, the better. If you are considering using fertilizer, conduct a soil test first to see what nutrients the tree might need. Again, this would be a time to consult a Maryland LTE who can test the soil and advise on whether to fertilize and how. Soil is active and alive, filled with millions of microbes that provide important nutrients to a tree. Soil
also provides pathways for mycorrhizae. Mycorrhizae are healthy fungi that enhance uptake of water and nutrients for a tree. Mycorrhizae usually appear in soil as a fine, white substance in healthy soil. In Peter Wohlleben’s The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate, Discoveries from a Secret World , the author discusses how microscopic organisms in mycorrhizae can travel great distances in soil. Soil is host to a hidden world beneath the ground that can nurture tree roots. Mycorrhizae form a symbiotic relationship with soil and the roots of a tree. Mulching
Rich, healthy soil is full of microorganisms.
Mulching your trees provides the roots with protection and helps the tree survive temperature extremes. It reduces competition from weeds and grass. Mulch also improves soil structure and releases nutrients as they break down over time. A ring of mulch can create a safe space where lawn mowers and weed whackers will not be used directly at the trunk. Over-mulching a tree is where our best intentions can go wrong. We’ve all seen the classic “mulch volcano” around the base of a tree. Even the best landscaping companies can sometimes make this mistake. Most “mulch volcanos” are a mound of mulch mixed with soil and clumps of grass piled around tree trunks. Or a mulch volcano can result from piling commercially sold mulch too high.
Spreading mulch so that the material is directly up against the base of the tree trunk is another common mistake. It can lead to moisture being trapped close to the trunk. This can form a damaging fungus that can create root rot and eventually kill a tree. Apply mulch between two and four inches deep and near – but not touching – the tree trunk. Mulch should typically extend to the dripline of a newly planted tree. For a mature tree, mulch as far a distance from the trunk as you can without losing the character of your landscaping. Use mulch made from organic material like wood chips and leaves. Check your mulch each year to see if more is needed.
Keep mulch away from the immediate base of a tree trunk. Pull it back about three inches away from the trunk. And avoid a mulch volcano.
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