Tip for homeowners who do their own mulching: Mulch piled high against a tree trunk can cause damage to your tree.
The mulch retains water which can make the tree bark susceptible to decay. Mulch interferes with the flow of oxygen to tree root cells, causing a secondary root system to grow into the mulch and around the tree restricting the tree's vascular flow. Too much mulch can cause your tree to be stressed out and unable to defend against pest infestations.
What to do! Maintain a mulch depth of 2-3 inches and keep the mulch pulled away from the trunk flare.
