Gail Ruhl, Senior Plant Disease Diagnostician, Interim P&PDL Director, Purdue University
Applying heaping mounds of mulch right up to the tree trunk is often
referred to as "volcano mulching". Having personally witnessed the
decline
and eventual death of young as well as established trees because of
excessive mulch applications around the trunk, I cannot urge you enough
to
educate yourself on the proper way to mulch a tree. As mentioned by Dr.
Mike
Dana, in HO-100-W Planting
and Transplanting Landscape Trees and Shrubs,
it
is important to "keep all mulch away from the trunk of the tree or stems
of
shrubs". When a thick layer of mulch is placed in direct contact with
a
tree
trunk or shrub stem, the moisture captured by the mulch will keep the
bark
of the tree or shrub in a continual state of wetness. Eventually, the
bark
will begin to decay. Insects, fungi, and bacteria will feed on the
damaged
tissue and the lower trunk will develop a wood rot that will most likely
cause eventual death of the tree or shrub.
Click on the small image to view a larger image.
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Volcano mulching -- a disaster waiting to happen! |
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