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tree growth tagged posts

Mulch Volcanoes Kill Trees

Thanks to the University of Maryland/Maryland Grows this informative article on how mulch volcanoes kill trees.

A tree with a volcano of mulch around it.
Mulch piled high around trees is harmful. Photo: D. Clement, University of Maryland Extension

I’ve been a bit twitchy lately. I keep seeing mulch piled high around trees and it makes me more than a little baffling. Those mulch volcanoes are so very bad for trees. 

Why? They hold moisture against the bark, inviting rot, pests, rodents, and disease.

With mulch, less is more. One to three inches is all you need. 

Done right, mulch can be a good thing. It suppresses weeds, holds moisture, prevents soil compaction, moderates temperature, and improves soil structure when it breaks down.  

Mulch put correctly around a small tree.
Proper mulch is 1 to 3 inches deep. Photo: UME-HGIC

Mulch can be att...

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