December is Mulch Volcano Awareness Month
DrPulte_Moderator
| Posted in Southeast Gardening on
I declare December “Mulch Volcano Awareness Month.” December is a great month to freshen up the look of the mulch rings around your trees. A ring of mulch has many benefits. But don’t go overboard. Two inches of mulch is ideal. When mulch gets piled high around trees and shrubs, forming mulch volcanoes, it can cause problems.
Take a quick walk around the yard this month, and pull back any mulch that may have gotten a little too close to your plants.
But the big question – how do I tell my neighbors their mulch volcanos are not helping their trees?
Replies
You should see the root flair on your trees like the photo in the main post. A ring of mulch helps reduce competition with turfgrasses, preserves soil moisture, and can be aesthetically pleasing. Additionally, it helps prevent the mechanical damage that can be common from mowers and string trimmers.
More on mulch: https://www.finegardening.com/article/making-the-most-of-mulch