Saving Trees from Drought and Heat

• The sizes of the plants and turning radius of your mower determine the size and shape of the mulch area.
• Mulch out to the drip line or edge of the widest branches, if possible.
• Group shrubs and trees into beds, instead of mulching around individual plants, to save mowing time and unify your landscape plantings.

• Clear all the weeds and grass from the area you intend to cover to prevent them from growing up through the mulch.
• Pull weeds by hand or hoe them out.
• Remove lawn grass by slicing under it with a spade, being careful to dig only into the top 2 to 3 inches of soil.
• Shake the soil out of the turf before discarding it to maintain the soil depth around your trees and shrubs.

• Cover the cleared area with 2 to 4 inches of mulch.
• Rake the mulch into a flattened doughnut shape.
• Make a neat outer edge by leaving a small gap between the mulch and the edge of the surrounding lawn.

• Replace mulch as needed during the growing season to maintain the 2 to 4 inch depth.
• Rake up and replace organic mulch in the spring, especially around roses and fruit trees.

Informational Link

Proper Mulching Techniques

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