Donuts are a tasty treat for people. Trees love donuts, too but they are not the glazed kind.
Nurseries and garden centers are looking forward to fall planting season as it is one of the best times to plant many trees and shrubs. Typically, fall and early winter months have more rain, soil moisture and cool temperatures. These are great conditions to get trees and shrubs planted with less stress to them and those who do the planting. The overall survival rates can be great with fall planting, because the roots will grow even when above ground temperatures are cold. This helps trees become established and better able to grow when warm weather arrives again in the spring.
Treat your newly planted trees and shrubs to a donut of mulch to ensure success. Organic mulch is a year round benefit. It moderates the soil temperatures, conserves soil moisture, and suppresses weed growth.
Place a roughly 3 inch layer of bark nuggets, pine straw, or shredded wood mulch evenly under the tree in an area as large as possible. Avoid placing the mulch on the surface of the tree trunks. Decay organisms and insects can negatively affect the health and longevity of trees when piled up on the tree trunk. Established plantings will also enjoy the benefits of mulch.
Mulch can help keep lawn equipment at a distance, too. When lawn mowers or weed eaters cut through the bark of trees, the damage can affect the future structural safety and health of the tree. In the case of small trees, trunk damage may kill them relatively quickly.
Trees don't heal their wounds like animals do by creating new healthy tissue. Trees compartmentalize decay and create a callous over the wound. But, the wound is still present.
Trees that have been properly chosen for their location; planted; mulched and cared for will be an asset that lasts a lifetime or longer.