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A client in Asheville told me my mulch volcanoes were killing his trees

He pointed out how I was piling it 8 inches high against the trunks, saying it was causing rot and girdling roots. I looked it up that night and he was totally right, so now I keep it flat and 3 inches from the base. Anyone else have a simple tip they learned the hard way?
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4 Comments
nelson.vera
I've seen plenty of trees thrive with that mulch setup in my area. Sometimes the issue is poor soil or disease, not just the mulch ring. Blake might feel guilty, but I don't think it's always that simple.
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nguyen.blake
We probably all have a few of those trees on our conscience.
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rowan_wells30
Ever wonder how many trees we've all slowly murdered with good intentions? I saw a landscaper do the volcano thing at a bank last week and almost said something. What's the worst damage you've seen from a common practice like that, like a tree that was clearly rotting or had roots strangling it above the mulch?
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maxf33
maxf3319d ago
My neighbor's oak had a three-inch deep mulch volcano for years. The bark at the base was completely soft and spongy, just rotting away. You could peel it off with your fingers. The worst part was the girdling roots circling the trunk above the mulch, cutting off its own water supply. It looked healthy from a distance but was basically being choked out.
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