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If you have grass
growing around the base of your trees, you need to get rid of it, and
replace it with mulch. Research has shown that grass actually competes with
the trees and can slow their growth. And, by having mulch around the base
of the tree, you reduce the risk of damages from lawn mowers and string
trimmers.
So if you have grass
growing around your trees, here’s what you need to do. Mark the size of the
ring you’d like to have around the tree, and remember, bigger is better.
Using a sharp spade, cut the bed edge around the tree, being sure to remove
the pieces of sod you cut. Do not throw these back into the area that will
be mulched.
Now, here’s where we’ll
cheat a bit…leave the rest of the grass around the tree, but spray it
thoroughly with Roundup. Roundup will kill the grass, but not harm the
tree. Give it time to dry, maybe even wait a day or so, and then mulch the
area on top of the treated grass. Remember, 1-3 inches of mulch, and never
place mulch against the trunk of the tree. When you’re finished mulching,
the mulched area should look like a donut.
If a piece of the grass
makes it up through the mulch, just give it a quick shot of Roundup. You
know what? The mulched area not only benefits the tree, but I think it
looks better, too. |
