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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.

Regular maintenance involves raking or leveling out any displaced gravel, filling in low spots, and adding fresh gravel as needed to help prevent potholes and ruts. If you live in an area with heavy rain, checking the drainage and reinforcing the edges periodically can help prevent erosion.

The ideal amount of mulch is the square footage of your desired depth in inches divided by 324. Aim to keep your old and/or new mulch at a depth of no more than three or four inches.

Colored mulch can be bad for plants in that it robs them of nitrogen as it depletes the soil to break itself down. With this in mind, it’s a good idea to test your soil to check the nitrogen levels. If the nitrogen levels are low, use fertilizer with extra nitrogen or switch to regular mulch.

Another downside of colored mulch is if it’s heavily contaminated, it can contaminate the soil and damage your plants. To avoid this, look for the MSC certification logo on the mulch bag before purchasing.