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In most cases, it’s better to remove rocks before adding mulch. Layering the two will restrict drainage and plant health, and can create an unpleasant texture underfoot.

If you decide to DIY your boulder removal project, you’ll want to wear work gloves and protect your eyes if you decide to break the boulder into smaller pieces. Wear a lifting harness and focus on lifting with your legs to prevent back injuries. If you’re digging around a large boulder or using heavy machinery to get underneath it, make sure there are no utility lines nearby.

How tall your mulch should be around your tree depends on the type of mulch you use, but aim for 3 to 4 inches as a rule of thumb. You’ll want to avoid simply piling it up in hopes of offering additional benefits to your tree. Volcano mulching is the infamous term for piling way too much mulch against the stem of your tree. This could actually kill your tree or severely harm it, as your tree trunk needs space to breathe without too much moisture.

The best mulches for trees are wood chips, bark nuggets, or pine straw. Depending on your goals, you may want to avoid using plastic, stone, rubber, or wet grass clippings. Plastic mulch prevents water from reaching the mulched areas of your tree, stones don’t offer any nutritional benefits to the soil, rubber can release byproducts into the soil when it decomposes, and wet grass clippings can lead to rot. 

Plastic may prove beneficial in cold climates in the winter, but wood chips are the ideal option for most environments.