Mulching the trees in our landscapes is a common practice, with many benefits. Just remember, there is right way and a wrong way to mulch trees.
One of the most common mistakes is arranging the mulch ring around the tree in the shape of a volcano instead of a doughnut. Mulching against the tree trunk can lead to trunk problems, disease problems, habitat for rodents, and excessive soil moisture and root rots.
The benefits of mulching are numerous: helps maintain soil moisture, helps control weeds, keeps lawn mowers and string trimmers at bay, easier maintenance, appearance and improves the soil.
A number of things can be used for mulch. Most commonly used are bark chips, wood chips, composts and pine needles.
The best way to mulch is using a two to four inch layer of mulch. Then be sure to mulch a large area.
When it comes to mulching trees, the larger the better. You might even consider mulching to the drip line of the tree.