Fall is a good time to replenish mulch around your landscape trees or to apply it for the first time. During the warm summer months, organic mulch decomposes, making beneficial elements available for tree growth but reducing some of the other attributes of mulch. Mulch is simply organic matter applied over the root zone of a tree. The larger the mulch area, the better it is for the tree. Mulch acts as a blanket to hold moisture, protect against harsh soil temperatures, help prevent mechanical injury from mowers and string trimmers, and reduce competition from grass and weeds.
Good choices are wood chips, shredded bark, shredded leaf litter, or pine straw.
Remember, organic materials do not have to be composted before using if they are applied as surface mulch. Mulch should be placed at a uniform depth, and care should be taken so that none is against the tree trunk. Putting mulch against the trunk may cause disease problems on the living bark at the base of the tree, especially with young trees. A mulch-free area, one to two inches wide at the base of the tree, is sufficient to avoid moist bark conditions and prevent infection. Mulching large areas around mature trees, out as far as the branch spread or drip line, is also very helpful.