Unnecessary and Wasteful Mulch Practices

I see excessive applications of mulch on many properties. Mulch loaded up in volcano mounds or applied when it isn’t necessary. Landscapers should know that the proper mulch height is 3” – 4” around shrubs or trees. It should be laid down in a ring around the base of the shrub or tree and not mounded up against the trunk. A good way to know if you have used mulch correctly is that you will be able to see the flare at the bottom of the shrub or tree. If the tree is completely straight in the mulch, it is wrong. With your hands, pull the mulch away till you can see the flare or even the first roots.

Organic mulch should only be reapplied when the mulch has decomposed down to 1” – 2”.  Add enough to bring it up to 3”.  The time frame for replacement is 1 – 2 years depending on the mulch material. Pine straw decomposes the fastest, and small pine bark lasts the longest.

Landscapers tend to reapply (and charge for) new mulch every spring or change annual beds. No need. Remove annuals by hand and scrape mulch to side. Add new annuals and then reuse the mulch. Check to see if new mulch is needed in landscape beds before asking landscape companies to mulch.