Q: Should I use mulch on a topped tree?

• <div><p>A light layer of <a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/best-tree-mulch.htm">mulch can help protect a tree</a>, retain moisture, and keep the soil healthy. However, it&rsquo;s important to avoid over-mulching or piling the mulch up around the trunk of a tree, a practice notoriously called &ldquo;volcano mulching.&rdquo; That piled mulch can increase the chances of rot and disease on the tree trunk as well as overwhelming the soil, which needs access to a certain amount of air. Topped trees have it hard enough: mulch sparingly while they heal.</p></div>

Question 1

Should I use rocks or mulch in my foundation planting beds?

Accepted Answer

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If you like the look of mulch in your plant beds, be aware that it can attract a variety of pests, including termites. To avoid wood-to-foundation contact, leave a one-foot barrier around your house and fill it in with rocks or gravel, starting mulch past that barrier and working it outward into your plant beds.

Question 2

How do you calculate the amount of gravel needed for a driveway?

Accepted Answer

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No one likes running out of materials during a project, so calculating the right amount of gravel needed for your driveway is an absolute must. Multiply your driveway’s length by width by the depth of the gravel (in feet). For gravel depth, convert to a decimal (i.e., 4 inches is 0.33 feet). This will give you the cubic feet of material that you need.

If you’re looking for cubic yards, divide that above number by 27.

Question 3

How much does a 40-pound bag of topsoil cover?

Accepted Answer

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A 40-pound bag of topsoil covers 0.76 cubic feet, enough for 4.5 square feet with a 2-inch depth or 36 square feet with a .25-inch depth, such as topdressing a standard garden bed. If you want 2 inches of fresh topsoil for your 36-square-foot garden bed, you’ll need eight 40-pound bags.

Question 4

Should you remove old mulch before putting down new mulch?

Accepted Answer

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Mulch is made from natural materials, which will break down and add nutrients to your soil for better plant and soil health, so removing old mulch is unnecessary before putting down new mulch. However, if you live in a particularly moist area, it’s possible that the old mulch will harbor fungus or mold, which can hurt plant health. If you notice these issues, you might want to consider removing the old mulch first. Otherwise, save time and money by placing new mulch right over the old mulch.

Question 5

Should I use mulch on a topped tree?

Accepted Answer

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A light layer of mulch can help protect a tree, retain moisture, and keep the soil healthy. However, it’s important to avoid over-mulching or piling the mulch up around the trunk of a tree, a practice notoriously called “volcano mulching.” That piled mulch can increase the chances of rot and disease on the tree trunk as well as overwhelming the soil, which needs access to a certain amount of air. Topped trees have it hard enough: mulch sparingly while they heal.