Making sure your trees have a good base of mulch is important. Mulch will keep moisture around the base of your tree as well as protect it. Here is a list of material that makes the best mulch:
Grass Clippings. Dry or compost before using. Mix with other materials to increase porosity and reduce matting. A source for some nitrogen but also higher alkalinity, which may compromise nutrition.
Hardwood Bark. Pine bark or shredded bark, can be purchased as bags of small or large chips. Long-lasting.
Hardwood Chips. Readily available and often free from municipal sources. If chips are not composted, apply a nitrogen fertilizer at a rate of 1/2 pound/100 square feet of chips. Composted Leaf Litter (leaf mold). A good source of nutrients but may increase weeds if not thoroughly composted.
Animal Manure. A good source of nutrients. Compost before applying or plant damage (burn) may result due to high salt content. Ideally, should be mixed with a coarse-textured material. Mushroom compost. A good source of nutrients when mixed with other materials. Source of large amounts of alkalinity and sometimes salts.
Peat Moss. Compacts easily due to fine texture and dries out quickly. Not recommended as a top dressing because water will not penetrate when dry.
Pine Boughs. This is a good covering for perennials in the winter.
Pine Needles. Not widely available and should be mixed with other materials unless soil acidity is desired.
Sawdust. Compost first or mix with a nitrogen source (manure and/or fertilizer) before applying. Oak sawdust helps acidify soil and is good for azaleas, rhododendrons, and blueberries. Do not use sawdust from treated lumber.
Sewage Sludge. A good source of nutrients. Composted sludge is available commercially (i.e., Milorganite or Nutricomp) and should be incorporated with soil or mixed with other composted material.
Shredded Leaves. Leaves are variable in texture and can be collected and shredded at home. Mix into the soil in the fall and allow to break down naturally during the winter for improved soil quality.
Straw. Coarse-textured so it persists a long time, but can blow away easily unless mixed with other materials. Generally not suitable as a landscape mulch, but provides winter protection and cover for grass seed.
Keep in mind that having trees on your property comes with a little bit of maintenance. With just a little maintenance, you can prevent most major pitfalls. You won’t have to be worried about trees causing property damage or even worse, personal injury. We look forward to discussing your tree maintenance needs. We have trained arborists in the Tri-Cities that are professional and that can answer any questions you have.