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Mulching any time of year can attract termites, so there’s no added risk in the fall. The important thing to remember is that termites are attracted to rotting wood, so you need to lay a thin enough layer that won’t trap too much moisture and lead to rotting. A layer between 1 and 4 inches thick should provide all the benefits you’re looking for without attracting termites.

Organic mulch typically lasts between 4 to 6 years. However, factors like the type of organic mulch you choose, mulch size, and weather conditions can all play a role in its longevity. In some cases, you’ll need to replace organic mulch every few years.

It depends. High-end colored mulch can be fairly costly. However, you'll have to replace less-expensive natural mulches, like pine needles and cedar mulch, more frequently. 

The cost is balanced out somewhat, though, as although you'll have to replace colored mulch less often, you'll have to replenish nutrients in your soil more frequently to make up for the decrease in organic matter and nitrogen from the mulch.

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.