Inner bark death.

Apr 12, Mulch can be applied to landscape trees at just about any time of the year.

Deep mulch may suppress weeds, but it wastes time and money and can cause major health problems that lead to tree decline and possibly death.

However, the best time to apply mulch is in the middle of spring, once soil temperatures have warmed enough for root growth to begin. Mulch as much of the area as possible, preferably to the outermost edge of the tree's canopy, referred to as the “drip line."Estimated Reading Time: 7 mins.

Sep 02, Benefits of Mulching Around Trees. Trees, especially young ones, typically benefit most from a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch around their base. However, for the first 12 inches immediately surrounding the trunk, thin the mulch layer so that it just covers the soil. This will prevent the common problems associated with excessive mulching. Mulch should be applied in a ring at least 4 to 6 feet in diameter around the base of the tree. The depth of mulch should be no more than 2 to 4 inches, taper-ing out to the ground level at the edge of the ring.

The farther out from the tree you can make the mulch ring, the greater bene fi t to the tree. Next to watering, mulching is arguably the best practice for keeping newly planted or even older, established trees healthy long term. What is mulch? Mulch is an organic material spread on the soil surface to protect the soil and tree roots from from things like heat, cold, and drought.

However, there are some do's and don'ts to keep in mind when using garden mulch around trees.

As it breaks down mulch also improves the soil around the tree. Mulching benefits include: Decreased evaporation: Covering the soil.