5 Mulching Mistakes That Can Damage Your Fruit Trees

Whether you have young or mature fruit trees, mulching around the base has many benefits. It helps with moisture retention, provides nitrogen for the soil, reduces root compaction, and helps with weed control. Another bonus: mulching gives your garden a tidy look. That said, whenever you're gardening or landscaping, there's always the risk of causing harm when you're trying to do something good. Ahead, we're sharing some ways that incorrect mulching might negatively affect your fruit trees and how you can do the job properly for maximum results. 

Mulching Too Close to the Bark

Mulch is for the area around the tree—not for the tree itself. "The worst problem that occurs when mulching is to apply the mulch so that it is in contact with the base of the tree," says Jeff Jabco, interim executive director of Scott Arboretum & Gardens. "This can lead to the bark tissue at the base of the tree rotting because the bark is in constant contact with moisture."

Mulching too close to the tree can also encourage rodents. "There should be about 2 to 4 inches of bare soil between the trunk and the mulch to help prevent winter rodent injury, as mice and other critters will nest near trunks and chew on the bark," says Tonia Lordy, executive director at the Home Orchard Education Center.  

Volcano Mulching

When mulching around fruit trees, it's not a good idea to make a heap of mulch like a volcano. Although the practice is sometimes used, it can be harmful to the health of the tree for many reasons. Volcano mulching blocks the roots from getting enough oxygen and can cause the underlying soil to remain wet for too long, leading to rot.

Mulching Too Much

It can be tricky to find the perfect balance between too much mulch and too little. "Applying too much mulch, especially around young or immature trees, will negatively impact growth rates as nitrogen is tied up decomposing the organic matter," says Lordy. Too much mulch can also cause the tree to develop adventitious roots, roots growing from trunk tissue, rather than root tissue. Over time, the roots can turn into girdling roots, restricting the tree's ability to transport water.

Mulching Too Little

Too little mulch can also cause issues. If the layer of mulch is too thin, it may not be able to perform its other duties. "Mulching will help to suppress weeds for a time, and it will help hold in moisture and reduce competition for water and nutrients for the fruit tree by weeds and turf, especially important during young tree establishment," says Jabco. Not using enough mulch can prevent your fruit trees from reaping these benefits.

Using Dyed Mulch

Source your mulch carefully. Because it's sitting directly above the tree roots and will eventually break down into the soil, you want to avoid contaminants. "Dyed mulch is commonly made from waste wood products, not directly from trees," says Jabco. "Sometimes, the recycled wood waste that is ground up and dyed could have come from wood that is contaminated with creosote or chemicals that are used in pressure-treated wood. It is safer to use undyed mulch or compost that is made directly from your garden."