Author Topic: Mulching around trees - how many inches deep?  (Read 5282 times)

bradflorida

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Mulching around trees - how many inches deep?
« on: April 30, 2013, 12:21:17 AM »
I am applying mulch around my fruit trees, with a combination of pine, eucalyptus and other mulches (local tree trimmer dropping off whatever clean mulch becomes available). 

I found a Fairchild Gardens article which referenced 6-10" deep of mulch around fruit trees.  However, other web references suggest anywhere from 2-6". 

I was planning on possibly doing 8" deep of mulch.  Does anyone have recommendations? 

Thanks,

Brad

Brad

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Re: Mulching around trees - how many inches deep?
« Reply #1 on: April 30, 2013, 12:32:54 AM »
If you're using a type of mulch that biodegrades quickly, then you want to be on the high end of the spectrum. I do 10 to 12 inches when using mulched tree trimmings. Within a few months, it turns into an inch worth of compost.
Jeff  :-)

jcaldeira

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Re: Mulching around trees - how many inches deep?
« Reply #2 on: April 30, 2013, 01:00:18 AM »
My method is consistent with Jeff's.  For plants that most benefit from it, I like to mulch 6 inches (150 mm) or so, but think of it more as an ongoing process to add more mulch as the older stuff rots. I don't have enough organic matter to do this with all my fruit trees, but on the ones I do I keep it off the trunk and try to cover the area where I want to prevent weed growth.

John
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Kay

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Re: Mulching around trees - how many inches deep?
« Reply #3 on: April 30, 2013, 12:49:13 PM »
anyone have thoughts on using trimmings from same tree to mulch said tree?  I see people doing this, but i often wonder if it might also aid in fungal growth of some unwanted tree polypores.

bradflorida

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Re: Mulching around trees - how many inches deep?
« Reply #4 on: April 30, 2013, 08:49:52 PM »
Thanks for the input guys!  Much appreciated.
Brad
Brad

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Re: Mulching around trees - how many inches deep?
« Reply #5 on: May 01, 2013, 01:11:41 AM »
I go 1-2 foot deep. It will be gone in a few months, more the better

fruitlovers

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Re: Mulching around trees - how many inches deep?
« Reply #6 on: May 01, 2013, 01:33:21 AM »
anyone have thoughts on using trimmings from same tree to mulch said tree?  I see people doing this, but i often wonder if it might also aid in fungal growth of some unwanted tree polypores.

Not usually a problem unless you are also using dropped fruit as part of the mulch.
Oscar

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Re: Mulching around trees - how many inches deep?
« Reply #7 on: May 01, 2013, 11:39:36 AM »
Why would dropped fruit be a problem?

DRFixembones

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Re: Mulching around trees - how many inches deep?
« Reply #8 on: May 01, 2013, 12:12:39 PM »
Rotting, insects, and Fungus...
Zach

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Re: Mulching around trees - how many inches deep?
« Reply #9 on: May 01, 2013, 08:45:46 PM »
One tip from my house: I like to use cardboard recycled from deliveries underneath the mulch instead of weedguard plastic or fabric. It suppresses weeds but biodegrades. If you use the plastic or fabric it ends up getting shred up in lawnmowers and then the little bits blow around your yard forever and ever.

rcardaman

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Re: Mulching around trees - how many inches deep?
« Reply #10 on: May 01, 2013, 10:21:45 PM »
One tip from my house: I like to use cardboard recycled from deliveries underneath the mulch instead of weedguard plastic or fabric. It suppresses weeds but biodegrades. If you use the plastic or fabric it ends up getting shred up in lawnmowers and then the little bits blow around your yard forever and ever.

Cardboard works well.  You can also use newspaper, but it has to be at least 8 sheets thick.  Otherwise grass can grow through it.




Richard

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Re: Mulching around trees - how many inches deep?
« Reply #11 on: May 01, 2013, 10:39:36 PM »
If you go less than 2 inches, weeds will easily sprout and grow.  I would think 4 inches would be sufficient, but you would have to add more a few times a year.  Is there ever such a thing as too much mulch?  Is it true you shouldn't mulch around citrus trees?
« Last Edit: May 01, 2013, 10:41:37 PM by johnb51 »
John

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Re: Mulching around trees - how many inches deep?
« Reply #12 on: July 09, 2013, 02:15:14 PM »
I have an overabundance of live oak trees...subsquently a TON of leaves!

Are these a good source of mulch material for mango trees?

If not, what is "best"?  Cypress, pine bark, ???

Fruitguy

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Re: Mulching around trees - how many inches deep?
« Reply #13 on: July 09, 2013, 03:02:34 PM »
Is there ever such a thing as too much mulch?

Yes!  I recall after Hurricane Andrew someone in Homestead decided to take advantage of the free mulch being offered by the County and did an entire orchard 4 feet deep.  Nearly every tree died.  I believe it was due to a lack of oxygen exchange with the soil.  (Maybe someone can search the archives.)  I do plenty of mulch 6-8 inches deep and have not seen any problems. 

Is it true you shouldn't mulch around citrus trees?

Most sources recommend keeping mulch 6 inches or more away from citrus as it is said to encourage shallow root growth.  My experiment of one tree (kumquat) has not shown any ill effects, but the mulch is only 3 inches thick and right up against the trunk. 

JeffDM

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Re: Mulching around trees - how many inches deep?
« Reply #14 on: July 09, 2013, 04:01:41 PM »
A former next door neighbor didn't like mowing his lawn so he hired a landscaper to remove the grass, install a weed barrier and cover the yard with decorative rock.  After several months my neighbor had to start paying another guy to pull and/or spray the weeds that were sprouting up all over his rock covered yard.
When a new neighbor moved in he decided to get rid of the rocks and put in grass.
As he removed the rocks and pulled up the weed barrier he found it to be perfectly intact.
The weeds had been growing on top of the barrier and that's why I never bother to use them.