Mulch piles available

Because the trees in the park are being trimmed we have received 3 piles of fresh mulch to be used by the tree adopters to apply the annual ring of mulch around their tree.  The mulch was also used around the Farmer's Market area to mitigate the earth compaction from the extra foot traffic around the stalls.  Check the google map -- the pink pins are where the mulch was dropped.

Bring yourself a bucket or wheelbarrow and a spade.

HOW TO MULCH

Each young tree should have a 2 to 4-inch deep ring of mulch chips around its trunk to conserve soil moisture, reduce soil compaction, suppress grasses and weeds, and help prevent damage from mowers and weed whackers.  Apply mulch in a circle covering the entire root system of a tree (about 2 feet), keeping it at least 6 inches from the base of the tree trunk.  Most of the fine, absorbing roots of a tree extend well beyond the tree canopy, or drip line.  Over the season the mulch will break down and be absorbed into the earth.  If you have some, sprinkle about a cup (max) of bone meal around the tree before mulching as this will add nitrogen to the soil which is good for the tree's roots and is used by the mulch as it breaks down.

The biggest no-no when mulching is to create a “mulch volcano” that is six to eight inches high around and touching the base of the tree. This results in the decay of the bark and will girdle the tree by killing the vascular tissue under the bark, foster infection, create a breeding ground for bad pathogens, and can create habitats for rodents that chew the bark. (Yikes!)  Volcano mulching also traps moisture around the tree trunk and root flare, leading to decay and, eventually, structural failure.