[CANUFNET] To Mulch or Not To Mulch

[Dave Evans]

As foresters and arborists , I can't believe that we have to defend our 
use of mulch , it's basic science . I once read a saying by George Bernard 
Shaw - " The greatest problem in communication is the illusion that it has 
been accomplished ." 

David W Evans
Senior Municipal Arborist
City of St. John's , Public Works & Parks
Parks Services Division
(709) 576-8468



From:   "Stephen Smith" <ufora at idirect.com>
To:     "Canadian Urban Forest Network" <canufnet at list.web.net>
Date:   2011/03/31 12:51 PM
Subject:        Re: [CANUFNET] To Mulch or Not To Mulch
Sent by:        canufnet-bounces at list.web.net



We mulch heavily when we can.  It keeps the weeds down and moisture in. 
The only drawback is on wet sites that become wetter with a blanket on 
them.  Have a look at the attached doc from one of our projects.  The goal 
was to improve the soil by mulching heavily and letting it rot in an old 
field with hard clay soil. All we did was put mulch down and wait 2 years.
 
Stephen Smith
Urban Forest Associates Inc.
www.ufora.ca
 
From: Philip van Wassenaer 
Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2011 9:47 AM
To: 'Canadian Urban Forest Network' 
Subject: Re: [CANUFNET] To Mulch or Not To Mulch
 
I agree that the organics are very important as well protecting the fine 
new roots we need to encourage.
 
Mulch is good. Bad mulching practices are bad!
 
 
Philip van Wassenaer, B.SC., MFC
1248 Minnewaska Trail
Mississauga, Ontario
Canada, L5G 3S5
Tel:  (905) 274-1022
Cell: (647) 221 3046
Fax: (905) 274 2170

 
www.urbanforestinnovations.com
 
 
 
 
From: canufnet-bounces at list.web.net [mailto:canufnet-bounces at list.web.net] 
On Behalf Of Jack Radecki
Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2011 5:29 PM
To: 'Canadian Urban Forest Network'
Subject: Re: [CANUFNET] To Mulch or Not To Mulch
 
These new findings contradict my 35 years of experience in the field and 
monitoring tree growth throughout. Perhaps  they are talking about mulch 
volcanoes or excess mulch over the root zone. I have only seen the 
benefits and the proof is the resuts that I have seen over many years. 
Ask yourself the questions about how organic matter is replenished in a 
forest? Trees "feed" themselves from their own litter. Without the mulch 
you put the tree into an inorganic, inert world and prone to the many 
problems that we are aware of, drought obviously is the main killer of 
young trees.
 
Jack Radecki Registered Consulting Arborist 342
 
 
From: canufnet-bounces at list.web.net [mailto:canufnet-bounces at list.web.net] 
On Behalf Of terri smith
Sent: March-30-11 12:49 PM
To: Canufnet Canufnet
Subject: [CANUFNET] To Mulch or Not To Mulch
 
I would like to know if there are any municipalities that have stopped 
applying mulch on newly planted boulevard trees.  Current research 
indicates that mulch should not be placed over the root ball because it 
causes roots to grow up into the mulch area, it also causes roots to 
remain within the root ball area instead of growing out laterally, and it 
actually prevents the water from penetrating deep into the soil.  Dr. Ed 
Gilman and Dr. Hannah Mathers both agree that no more than 2 – 2.5 inches 
of mulch should be applied outside of the root ball area (if mulch is 
still going to be applied) and both are in agreement that mulch provides 
no benefit to the tree.  At 2 inches of mulch there is little to no weed 
suppression.
 
These new findings contradict our current mulching practices and have 
created much debate within our department.  I would like to hear from 
other municipalities that have either discontinued mulching or have never 
mulched their blvd trees.  Is there a need to increase the amount or 
frequency of watering?
 
Terri Smith
Urban Forestry
City of Saskatoon[attachment "Soil comparisons at Taylor Creek Park.doc" 
deleted by Dave Evans/CSJ] 

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