Helping Your Trees with Vertical Mulching
Like most living organisms, trees require oxygen and water. Over time, however,
the soil around the tree roots can become compacted. This causes a reduction in
the amount of oxygen and water available to the tree root system. Vertical
mulching is a method to aerate the soil around the tree roots.
The soil around trees can become compacted for a number of reasons. Driving cars
or heavy machinery next to the tree can cause root damage, as can storing heavy
materials such as lumber, bricks or bags of concrete. If your trees have been
exposed to this kind of damage, vertical mulching will give them a chance to
regain their health.
Each tree has a “critical root zone” that is equivalent to the diameter of the
leaf canopy. Although the roots can grow beyond the critical root zone by a
factor of two or three times, it is these roots closest to the tree which
require the greatest care. Vertical mulching will help keep your tree in good
health by properly aerating the root system.
Vertical mulching can be done with power equipment. An auger with a 2 inch drill
bit is used to make holes approximately 12 inches deep. The holes should be made
in a grid pattern approximately 18 inches square covering the whole critical
root zone. The holes can then be filled with a mixture of gravel or sand and a
small amount of compost.
Care must be taken not to damage the roots when drilling the holes. If the drill
hits any of the woody roots back off immediately and make the hole a few inches
to the side. Vertical mulching is supposed to be the cure, not the poison.
Once the holes have been filled, the last step in vertical mulching is to spread
a 3/4" layer of material over the whole critical root zone area. This can be
wood chips, leaves or compost and will help keep in moisture while nourishing
the roots. As a final precaution you can install a low fence all around the
perimeter of the critical root zone. This will prevent further soil compaction.
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