How Can Wood Mulch Save a Tree?

Mature trees are nearly priceless because of the value they add to your commercial property, school, or municipality. They provide shade and beauty as well as a home for wildlife. Plus, wooded properties are worth far more than bare ones, so trees can directly impact your bottom line.

As the saying goes, “The best time to plant a tree is 10 years ago.” If you’re fortunate enough to have mature trees on your property, you’ll want to preserve them from damage. If you don’t, now is the time to plant some young trees and help them grow strong.

This is where mulch can help. Let’s explore the ways that mulch help protects your trees.

#1: Mulch keeps weed trimmers away from trees.

You may not think much about the need to keep weeds and grass from growing close to your tree. Once your tree reaches maturity, it will probably shade out any unwanted plants growing beneath it. It’s not the weeds or grass that are problem, though. The problem is the weed whippers or trimmers needed to remove them and the damage they can cause.

Young trees have vascular systems just under their thin bark. A weed trimmer can easily cut through the bark and permanently damage the tree. Weed trimmers can do enough damage to girdle a tree, which will kill it. Even if it survives, an injured tree won’t grow as large or as strong as a healthy one.

Mulch suppresses weeds by blocking the light that weed seeds need to germinate so they never get a chance to grow. Mulch around your young trees means that weed removal won’t be needed, so they’ll be protected from this kind of damage.

#2: Mulch keeps a tree’s root system strong.

In order to survive, a tree needs strong, wide root system. Small water-absorbing roots grow close to the surface where they can be easily damaged by lawn mowing equipment, foot traffic, and construction equipment. This can cause permanent damage and lead to a mature tree’s decline.

A thick layer of mulch protects a tree’s roots from this kind of injury. It keeps grass from growing, eliminating the need to drive over tree roots with heavy lawn mowers. Mulch also serves as a visual reminder to construction equipment and pedestrians that they should avoid the area and choose another route.

Our mulch installation professionals can help you protect your tree’s root system. Their trucks can quickly place mulch around all your mature trees from a safe distance away. Even if your property includes multiple trees in need of mulch, blown mulch will get the mulch exactly where you want it in a short amount of time.

#3: Mulch keeps the soil moist and keeps trees from getting stressed.

Trees need consistent moisture in order to thrive. Without it, they can experience moisture stress. This stress can make them weak and leave them vulnerable to insects and diseases. While mature trees can survive a dry spell, they do better when they can draw moisture from the soil consistently.

Mulch regulates soil moisture around your trees by preventing evaporation. It keeps moisture in the soil where trees can use it to stay healthy. Mulch is especially effective when used with a drip irrigation system to deliver water to trees during the hot summer months.

We Can Help You Mulch Your Trees

As you begin your plans for tree planting, contact us to get matched with an installer or supplier of mulch. Blown mulch can be installed so quickly, which allows our professionals to work on a short timeline and get a good layer of mulch installed right away.

We can connect you to a mulch professional who can evaluate your site and help you determine the mulch that’s best for your project. With their expert advice, you can choose a mulch that will maximize the moisture in the soil and protect your trees from stress.

If you’d like to learn more about blown mulch and how it can help your valuable trees thrive, fill out the form on our site.