Ring of Mulch- 3 Steps to Adding a Ring of Mulch Around Your Tree
Adding a ring of mulch around your tree is one thing that every tree owner should do to ensure their trees stay healthy. A ring of mulch is like a daily vitamin for your tree and you won’t want to miss out on all of the benefits that come with laying mulch for the health of your tree.
Trees are deprived from all of the nutrients of their natural environment when we move them from the forest to our lawns. A bed of mulch mimics the habitat and homeostasis of the tree’s native home by locking in moisture and creating a barrier against weeds. The ecosystem underneath the mulch is also excellent for tree health and helps the tree maintain temperature.
You should avoid using rubber or synthetic mulch as it adds toxics to the soil and can harm your tree. Opt for a natural, hardwood mulch like our cedar mulch, black mulch, red mulch, or brown mulch.
Here are 3 Steps to Adding A Nutrient-Rich Ring of Mulch Around Your Tree.
Measure your Circle
You will want to make your mulch ring 4 feet in diameter to make sure that you have mulch to feed the tree as the trunk grows in circumference. Four feet should do the trick.
Tie a string around the tree and then from the trunk, measure out 2 feet from each point.
Remove Weeds and Grass
You can use weed killer to kill the grass around the tree but I recommend trying a natural weed killer. You can make your own by combining 1 gallon of white vinegar, 1 cup of salt, and 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap. Combine your ingredients in a spray bottle and for best results spray during the sunniest part of the day. You may have to spray the area several times until it is clear of weeds and grass.
Lay Mulch and Add a Border
Once the area is clear of unwanted vegetation you can lay the mulch in the desired area. Use our handy calculator if you are unsure of how much mulch you need.
If you’d like, you can add a border to keep the mulch from spreading around your yard or getting washed out by the rain. You can use a cut edge border, an elegant stone border, or a simple no-dig, plastic edging depending on your budget and taste.