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March 9, 2006 Mulching - The Sources and Techniques
Mulching woody and herbaceous plants is a rite of the gardening season that we all consider a rather benign practice. Recently, an e-mail circulated that would almost have us believing otherwise. In the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, tons of wood mulch became available from all the downed trees. With this mulch comes the threat of the dreaded Formosan subterranean termite spreading all over American gardens this spring. Rest easy because it isn't going to happen for the following reasons:
With that behind us, we now can concentrate on the right way to mulch plants this growing season. Don't overapply the mulch. Woody plants need no more than 3 to 4 inches over their roots, but not up against the trunk. Allow a minimum of 6 inches of mulch-free area around the trunk. Placing it against the trunk will encourage disease cankers and provide easy access to bark-nibbling rodents. Placing more than 4 inches of mulch over the roots will limit or eliminate oxygen reaching the roots, which will kill the root system slowly and encourage adventitious roots to develop under the mulched trunk area. These roots will be incapable of supporting the tree, resulting in gradual dieback of the crown and eventually killing the tree. Inorganic mulches, such as stone and chopped rubber tires, are not encouraged. They do not provide nutrient value to the plants; they tend to migrate into the landscape area, which can be a hazard, and they may affect the pH and nutrient balance of the soil. If old leaves are used as mulch, the mulch needs to pass through a spreader first to keep it from compacting. If grass clippings are going to be used, and the turf has been treated with herbicides, mow the grass at least three times before using the clippings as mulch. Spread the clippings over an impervious surface first so they dry. Spread the mulch less than an inch thick. Old organic mulch from the previous season can be incorporated partially into the root zone or added to, as long as the final thickness doesn't exceed the 4-inch rule. Freshly planted trees in a sod or lawn environment need to be mulched immediately to protect them from string trimmers and mowers. Homeowners often delay mulching and ignore the wounds caused by the turf machinery. When the mulch finally is applied, but improperly placed, pathogens have an easy entry into the tree. Proper mulching of landscape plant material, herbaceous or woody, will add value to the landscape and property through better aesthetics and healthier, thriving plants. ### Source: Ron
Smith, (701) 231-8161, ronsmith@ndsuext.nodak.edu |
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North Dakota State University |
