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Reduces root competition. In the Midwest, most of a tree’s fine roots are in the upper 12 to 18 inches of soil. Applying mulch under trees and shrubs eliminates competition from other plants for water and nutrients. Turf roots are especially aggressive and pose the largest threat of competition to trees and shrubs. Once you have your load of woodchips and are ready to mulch there are a few tricks and tips to keep in mind for applying mulch around a tree.

Depth. Always mulch ” deep, never greater than 4” deep. Mulch that is too deep can inhibit the oxygen exchange that needs to. Apr 12, A good rule of thumb is to pull mulch 3 to 5 inches away from young trees and 8 to 10 inches away from mature trees.

Spread excess mulch evenly out to the tree's drip line, checking to ensure the depth does not exceed 4 shrubhauling.barted Reading Time: 7 mins. Jun 06, Spread mulch in a 4–5 feet (– m) diameter around the tree. Lay down a thin layer of mulch around the tree.

According to the International Society of Arboriculture, mulching, when done correctly, is one of the most beneficial practices a homeowner can do for the health of a tree or shrub.

The mulch should not touch the tree itself. Leave 1–2 inches (– cm) of space between the base of the tree and the mulch%(62). Sep 02, You can mulch around trees with standard bark mulch, or you can use wood chips or shredded leaves. There is nothing wrong with using wood-chip mulches as long as you age them first.

If you decide to apply a leaf mulch, use shredded leaves whenever possible because they break down more quickly than whole leaves, thus releasing nutrients more quickly.