Mulching Trees

Bernard Keays · 30th September 2009, 09:42 PM

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone has noticed the number of trees being improperly mulched around our cities at the moment. There appears to be an increase in what I would call 'volcano' mulching. This is a practise where mulch is piled up high against the trunk of a tree like a volcano. I was always taught not to do this as this leads to collar rot. Don't we teach people to do this any more or is it just me? Does anyone have any strageties in place on how we can over come these problems?

Apocalypsse · 30th September 2009, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bernard Keays

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone has noticed the number of trees being improperly mulched around our cities at the moment. There appears to be an increase in what I would call 'volcano' mulching. This is a practise where mulch is piled up high against the trunk of a tree like a volcano. I was always taught not to do this as this leads to collar rot. Don't we teach people to do this any more or is it just me? Does anyone have any strageties in place on how we can over come these problems?

Dont hire builders to plant trees.

TrevMcRev · 30th September 2009, 10:13 PM

It seems councils or the large contractors that they engage dont really hire rocket surgeons to go around doing the mulching & watering of new street trees.

When they were replanting my street after having to remove mature trees after road widening damaged them all (

) i happened to be home so went out to oversee them planting.

I made them dig a wider hole & mulch properly, which they also went to do wrong first.

They were so intelligent they didn't even notice my Total Tree Care uniform and just thought i was a know-it-all pain in the azz homeowner

Sean Freeman · 30th September 2009, 11:05 PM

Sadly it is a reflection of our times....day labour used to complete what are seen as being mundane unimportant tasks...when nothing could be further from the truth.

It is as frustrating for many within council as it is to those of us outside, trust me

Budget constraints and managers not recognising the value of the green assets that should and could outlive the hardscape by 4 or 5 times! Unlike the constructed infrastructure trees can appreciate in value over time...but clearly not if the stock being put in is sub-standard and is poorly installed.

Gunslinger · 5th October 2009, 10:29 PM

I see landscapers do this all of the time around here. Anyone have a photo of what proper mulching around a tree should look like?

Sean Freeman · 5th October 2009, 10:48 PM

Victorian Beauty

Apocalypsse · 6th October 2009, 06:46 AM

Zomg, I used to go passed that tree every saturday for a decade. Now its only every so often. But dayam its a fkn awesome tree.

Sean Freeman · 6th October 2009, 06:54 AM

It still is one of my favourite trees, I get a god deal of inspriation from many aspects of this one....you know how such special trees can be preserved in spite of their location and the potential threats to them etc...etc...

ALSO it is just so damn cute!

TrevMcRev · 6th October 2009, 07:54 AM

Hey Sean, she is nice ey!

Were you just down here or an old pic?

Didn't think she's sprung that much leaf just out yet unless you were here yesterday

Sean Freeman · 6th October 2009, 07:57 AM

No just an old pic...I wish I could afford to get down to Melbourne just to visit your lovely trees....

If you get the chance to take a more recent one please do, I'd love to see how the little beauty is going

Bernard Keays · 6th October 2009, 09:05 PM

Sean,

Do you have any PDF's?

TrevMcRev · 6th October 2009, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bernard Keays

Sean,

Do you have any PDF's?

Now that, my friend, is a silly question

TrevMcRev · 6th October 2009, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Freeman

No just an old pic...I wish I could afford to get down to Melbourne just to visit your lovely trees....

If you get the chance to take a more recent one please do, I'd love to see how the little beauty is going

I'll see what i can do

Eric Frei · 6th October 2009, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bernard Keays

Sean,

Do you have any PDF's?

Bernard,

I'm letting you in on a big secret, check http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&rls=GGGL%2CGGGL%3A2009-23%2CGGGL%3Aen&as_q=mulching&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&num=10&lr=&as_filetype=pdf&ft=i&as_sitesearch=&as_qdr=all&as_rights=&as_occt=any&cr=&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&safe=images out.

Bernard Keays · 7th October 2009, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrevMcRev

Now that, my friend, is a silly question

Trev,

I don't mind if you think its a silly question. I have alot of respect for Sean and enjoy reading his comments on this forum. I agree their are a number of PDF files on mulching on the net. I guest I was hoping Sean could recommend a simple one which even a lay person could understand.

TrevMcRev · 7th October 2009, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bernard Keays

Trev,

I don't mind if you think its is a silly question. I have alot of respect for Sean and enjoy reading his comments on this forum. I agree their are a number of PDF files on mulching on the net. I guest I was hoping Sean could recommend a simple one which even a lay person could understand.

No offence intended

. Look under Seans name to the left. He is also known as the PDF King around here. I'll guess he probably has 50 saved under mulching alone!

Sean Freeman · 8th October 2009, 01:22 AM

Thankyou for the compliment Bernie

Have attached an Australian adaptation to the ISA info sheet on mulching, compiled it a while back for a friend in a northern Qld Council. Hope it fits the bill.

Garry Brockley · 8th October 2009, 08:00 PM

hahahhahaha as usual sean has the PDF to suit you really are the pdf King sean

Gunslinger · 8th October 2009, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Freeman

Thankyou for the compliment Bernie

Have attached an Australian adaptation to the ISA info sheet on mulching, compiled it a while back for a friend in a northern Qld Council. Hope it fits the bill.

Nice job Sean.

Eric Frei · 8th October 2009, 10:35 PM

Sean,

Do you remember a chap called Sir Mark Hartley?

Good, I knew you would. Well he'd really disapprove of page 2 of that diagram where it shows "feeder roots".

Sent: Saturday, July 04, 2009 2:15 AM to Eric Frei

Quote:

There is no such thing as a "feeder root"

.

Sean Freeman · 8th October 2009, 11:24 PM

I suspect that his objection was based on the erroneous implication through the use of the term feeder roots.....that roots are where the tree obtains its food....which we should all know is about as incorrect as it can be...food (carbohydrate/sugar) is made in the leaves.

I do understand the objection, and I would try very hard not to use confusing and contradictory terms in this way but I will be honest and say that in the past I have often used the term feeder roots.

These days (because of course I make no mistakes now!) I use the term fine absorbing roots, I should change the document accordingly, I will take a look at it but I have a few projects going right now - none generating $$'s.

Bernard Keays · 11th October 2009, 07:01 PM

Thanks Sean.

Eric Frei · 2nd January 2010, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Freeman

I suspect that his objection was based on the erroneous implication through the use of the term feeder roots.....that roots are where the tree obtains its food....which we should all know is about as incorrect as it can be...food (carbohydrate/sugar) is made in the leaves.

I do understand the objection, and I would try very hard not to use confusing and contradictory terms in this way but I will be honest and say that in the past I have often used the term feeder roots.

Well, it's only his objection not mine, but you know, he loves me as I'm seldom wrong.

30th September 2009, 09:42 PM	#1
Bernard Keays Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Glasshouse Posts: 193	Mulching Trees Hi, I was wondering if anyone has noticed the number of trees being improperly mulched around our cities at the moment. There appears to be an increase in what I would call 'volcano' mulching. This is a practise where mulch is piled up high against the trunk of a tree like a volcano. I was always taught not to do this as this leads to collar rot. Don't we teach people to do this any more or is it just me? Does anyone have any strageties in place on how we can over come these problems? __________________ Bernie

30th September 2009, 10:13 PM	#3
TrevMcRev Mature Tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Posts: 1,594	Re: Mulching Trees It seems councils or the large contractors that they engage dont really hire rocket surgeons to go around doing the mulching & watering of new street trees. When they were replanting my street after having to remove mature trees after road widening damaged them all () i happened to be home so went out to oversee them planting. I made them dig a wider hole & mulch properly, which they also went to do wrong first. They were so intelligent they didn't even notice my Total Tree Care uniform and just thought i was a know-it-all pain in the azz homeowner

30th September 2009, 11:05 PM	#4
Sean Freeman Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,981	Re: Mulching Trees Sadly it is a reflection of our times....day labour used to complete what are seen as being mundane unimportant tasks...when nothing could be further from the truth. It is as frustrating for many within council as it is to those of us outside, trust me Budget constraints and managers not recognising the value of the green assets that should and could outlive the hardscape by 4 or 5 times! Unlike the constructed infrastructure trees can appreciate in value over time...but clearly not if the stock being put in is sub-standard and is poorly installed.

5th October 2009, 10:29 PM	#5
Gunslinger Mature tree Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: New Jersey, USA Posts: 263	Re: Mulching Trees I see landscapers do this all of the time around here. Anyone have a photo of what proper mulching around a tree should look like?

5th October 2009, 10:48 PM	#6
Sean Freeman Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,981	Re: Mulching Trees Victorian Beauty Attached Thumbnails

6th October 2009, 06:46 AM	#7
Apocalypsse Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 1,152	Re: Mulching Trees Zomg, I used to go passed that tree every saturday for a decade. Now its only every so often. But dayam its a fkn awesome tree.

6th October 2009, 06:54 AM	#8
Sean Freeman Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,981	Re: Mulching Trees It still is one of my favourite trees, I get a god deal of inspriation from many aspects of this one....you know how such special trees can be preserved in spite of their location and the potential threats to them etc...etc... ALSO it is just so damn cute!

6th October 2009, 07:54 AM	#9
TrevMcRev Mature Tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Posts: 1,594	Re: Mulching Trees Hey Sean, she is nice ey! Were you just down here or an old pic? Didn't think she's sprung that much leaf just out yet unless you were here yesterday

6th October 2009, 07:57 AM	#10
Sean Freeman Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,981	Re: Mulching Trees No just an old pic...I wish I could afford to get down to Melbourne just to visit your lovely trees.... If you get the chance to take a more recent one please do, I'd love to see how the little beauty is going

6th October 2009, 09:05 PM	#11
Bernard Keays Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Glasshouse Posts: 193	Re: Mulching Trees Sean, Do you have any PDF's? __________________ Bernie

8th October 2009, 08:00 PM	#18
Garry Brockley Bayside Tree Care Brisbane Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Brisbane Aus Posts: 1,641	Re: Mulching Trees hahahhahaha as usual sean has the PDF to suit you really are the pdf King sean __________________ My business:- Brisbane Bayside Tree Care

8th October 2009, 11:24 PM	#21
Sean Freeman Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,981	Re: Mulching Trees I suspect that his objection was based on the erroneous implication through the use of the term feeder roots.....that roots are where the tree obtains its food....which we should all know is about as incorrect as it can be...food (carbohydrate/sugar) is made in the leaves. I do understand the objection, and I would try very hard not to use confusing and contradictory terms in this way but I will be honest and say that in the past I have often used the term feeder roots. These days (because of course I make no mistakes now!) I use the term fine absorbing roots, I should change the document accordingly, I will take a look at it but I have a few projects going right now - none generating $$'s.

11th October 2009, 07:01 PM	#22
Bernard Keays Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Glasshouse Posts: 193	Re: Mulching Trees Thanks Sean. __________________ Bernie

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Do codominant trees grow bigger than single trunk trees?	newguy18	General Tree Chat	6	6th March 2009 10:44 PM
Burlapping and mulching for the winter?	Theskystheway	General Tree Chat	5	2nd October 2008 05:13 PM
Air Burners\| Mulching Chipping Alternative	Eric Frei	Tree machinery and equipment	9	20th May 2008 09:01 PM
Boab trees and Bottle trees - confusion resolved	Eric Frei	Tree Information and Facts	2	5th August 2007 06:55 PM