During the summer, every living thing on the planet experiences heat, including trees. Due to global warming, the temperature is no longer the same as the summer in the past years. Unfortunately, if we neglect the remaining trees we have, we may experience hotter summers in the future.
One of the ways you can do to protect the trees from drying up is through mulching. Mulching is a tree care technique where wood chips, straws, or sawdust serve as a layer above the ground. If you’re not familiar with mulching, and you’re having second thoughts about trying it, here are the benefits it can provide to trees and plants.
1. Preserves moisture
Water evaporates faster during summer compared to other seasons. Unfortunately, if the soil is too dry and the sunlight is directed in your area, you won’t be able to irrigate your yard. Adding mulch around the trees can help lock in the soil moisture, and trees can stay hydrated.
Keep in mind that when adding mulch around trees, avoid the lower part of the truck or other exposed roots. Since mulching retains moisture, too much moisture may attract pests and diseases that can damage the trees.
If it’s your first time trying mulching, you can consult with your arborist about the proper way to use it.
2. Suppresses the weeds
Since the moisture from the soil evaporates easily during summer, trees need as many nutrients as they need. Unfortunately, weeds can take away the nutrients from the soil that supposedly belong to the trees.
Meanwhile, adding mulch around the trees can help suppress the weeds, preventing them from growing further. In addition, weeds can no longer germinate since they don’t receive the right amount of sunlight and other essentials.
On the other hand, without mulch and other proper tree care, weeds may invade your yard and your trees will suffer.
3. Regulates soil and root temperature
Aside from the fast evaporation rate, being exposed to extreme sunlight can increase the temperature of the roots and soil. When that happens, it can stress the trees, and they may cause diseases.
Since mulch is a natural insulator, it doesn’t just prevent moisture from escaping but also regulates the temperature of the soil. It isn’t just beneficial during summer, but also in the cold seasons.
In addition, the sudden change in the temperature can also damage the trees. But with the help of mulch, the temperature change can happen gradually.
4. Provides essential nutrients
Since mulch is made of organic materials, it can decompose over time, leaving sufficient nutrients for the soil. So, mulch doesn’t just protect the trees, but also the soil and other plants.
As the mulch decomposes, it releases micronutrients such as phosphorus and potassium. The more often you add mulch in your yard, the lesser the need to fertilise your trees and plants. However, when it comes to the quality of the mulch, you should consult with your local arborist to make sure that the trees and soil in your yard receive the right amount of nutrients they need.
5. Prevents soil erosion
Do you also experience sudden heavy rains in your area at the end of summer? Although it may seem nothing, soil erosion may still occur. If you don’t use mulch throughout summer, the soil and trees may be weakened, and they may not be as sturdy when heavy rain suddenly falls.
On the other hand, when you use mulch as often as possible, it can absorb the impact of raindrops and lessen the probability of exposing the tree roots. If you notice some exposed tree roots in your yard, it may be because of soil erosion. Unfortunately, if heavy rainfalls continuously dig the tree roots, trees can become weaker.
6. Enhances aesthetic appeal
Aside from the practical benefits of mulching, it also enhances the aesthetic appeal of the outdoors. As a homeowner, you don’t want to compromise the curb appeal of your house while protecting the trees, plants, and soil in your yard. Fortunately, mulching is one of the things you can do that can benefit both the health of the trees and the aesthetics of your surroundings.
Since mulch colour varies from light to dark brown, it matches any colour of present in your yard. So, whether you have visitors or people just passing by, they’ll appreciate the natural colour mulch can provide.
Final Thoughts
Mulching is one of the many things you can do to take care of your trees. Although some ways can be complicated, mulching is something you can do right away, without spending too much money and effort.
Although it’s advisable to ask assistance from your arborist when mulching for the first time, you won’t need to worry once you know how it’s done.
We hope this article helps you understand what mulching is, and the benefits it can provide, especially during summer. If you want to share your experience using mulch for the first time, don’t hesitate to comment below!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aliana Baraquio is a web content writer working for Sydney Tree Solutions, a company that provides tree removal and arborist services throughout Sydney. As a writer, she is passionate about providing good quality articles that help readers make the right choice.