Over-Mulching: The Dangers of Too Much Mulch

Mulching is an important part of taking care of your trees, but it’s easy to go overboard. If you’re not careful, over-mulching can do more harm than good to your trees and garden. If you’re not sure how much mulch to put down or you’ve been overdoing it in the past, read on for more tree care tips. We’ll tell you the dangers of over-mulching and how to avoid them.

Why Is Mulch Important to Tree Care?

Mulch is a layer of material (usually organic) that you spread around the base of your trees. It has a lot of benefits:

• It protects tree roots from extreme temperatures,
• It helps the soil retain moisture,
• And it can also prevent weed growth.

But like anything, too much of a good thing can be bad.

For tips on making your own organic mulch, check out our recent post How to Make Your Own DIY Mulch.

What Are the Dangers of Excessive Mulching?

There are several dangers associated with over-mulching:

• It can suffocate tree roots
• It can lead to rot and disease
• It can encourage pests and rodents
• It can result in nitrogen deficiency
• It can unbalance soil pH
• It can cause inner bark death of root flares

Let’s take a closer look at each.

Tree Root Suffocation

One of the most common problems with over-mulching trees is tree root suffocation. When you pile mulch too deep or too close to tree trunks, you run the risk of smothering the roots. This can lead to a number of problems, including:

• Reduced water and nutrient uptake
• Stunted growth
• Yellowing leaves
• Decline
• And eventually, death.

To avoid this, make sure you never pile mulch more than three inches deep over tree roots. Any more than that and you could be doing serious damage.

Rot and Disease

Over-mulching can also lead to problems like rot and disease. If mulch is too deep, it can stay wet and soggy for long periods of time. This creates the perfect environment for fungi and other diseases to take hold.

Pests and Rodents

Another problem with over-mulching is that it can attract pests and rodents. If mulch is too deep, it provides a perfect hiding place for mice, snakes, and other unwanted critters. Not to mention, it also gives them easy access to your trees.

Nitrogen Deficiency

Too much mulch can also cause nitrogen deficiency. When organic mulch breaks down, it takes nitrogen from the soil to do so. This can lead to yellowing leaves and stunted growth.

Unbalanced Soil pH

Mulch can also unbalance soil pH. If you have too much mulch, it can make the soil more acidic. This can be a problem for trees that prefer neutral or alkaline soils.

Inner Bark Death of Root Flares

Last but not least, over-mulching can cause inner bark death of above-ground root flares. This is when the mulch is breaking down and generating heat, which can kill the inner bark tissue in contact with the heating mulch.

How to Avoid Over-Mulching

Now that you know the dangers of over-mulching, you’re probably wondering how to avoid it. The best way to avoid over-mulching is to use the right amount of mulch for your tree.

• A general rule of thumb is no more than two to four inches of mulch for most trees.
• You can also use a soil test to determine how much mulch your tree needs.

If you’re not sure how to do a soil test, an ISA Certified arborist can perform one for you!

• Once you’ve determined how much mulch to use, be sure to spread it evenly around the base of your tree.
• And finally, make sure you never pile mulch up against the trunk of your tree. Leave approximately 4 to 6 inches of empty space between the base of the tree and where you begin laying mulch.

By following these simple tips, you can avoid the problems associated with over-mulching.

Now that you know the dangers of over-mulching, you can take steps to avoid it. If you have any questions about mulching or tree care in general, feel free to contact your tree care experts at TreeNewal. They would be more than happy to help you out!

Happy planting!

If you need advice or assistance with properly mulching your trees, get in touch with the ISA-Certified Arborists at TreeNewal and enjoy tailored tree care advice.

To learn more about Over-Mulching: The Dangers of Too Much Mulch, call our Argyle and Southlake-based teams

at (817) 592-6846 or send us a message.

We’re a little different than the average tree services company.

Learn more about TreeNewal’s ISA Certified Arborists!

Our Dallas/Fort Worth-based tree doctors can explain how sustainable tree care services add more value to your bottom line.

Healthy trees, healthy lives.