I don't know why they put so much mulch on. Generally, people put mulch around a tree so they don't have to mow real close. That is certainly an advantage when you are a commercial mower/landscaper doing a lot of yards. It is less trimming you have to do.

I also think people like the fresh look of dark mulch against green grass in the spring. In many places, mulch is piled to the point of ridiculousness. My neighbors have their lawn professionally done. Some of the mulch mounds around the trees are now at least two feet high.

Personally, I wouldn't try to learn landscaping from the professional landscapers. They will do things "when hired", not necessarily "when the season is perfect." I've seen lots of trees and shrubs planted out of season and incorrectly and that don't survive. To me, it seems wasteful.

Meeting other gardeners, reading books or websites on gardening, researching plants that will grow in your conditions and checking out nearby nurseries are better ways to learn. The upcoming plant swap would be a great place to meet area gardeners.

darcieg

The builder is just ignorant, repeating what they see others do. Trying to get information on correct way to plant from landscapers or builders is a big mistake. The biggest mistake they make is piling on mulch like that - it _will_ slowly kill your young trees by compacting the soil and keeping air from getting to their roots. Do a Garden web search on mulch volcano and you'll learn more.

A better source of gardening info is Master Gardeners, your County Extension agent or the public library. Meanwhile, get out there with a rake and spread the mulch out until it's no more than 2-3 inches deep.

Commercial gardeners are often paid by the cubic yard for mulch, so it's worth their while to maximize the amount they use. But as said above, it's wasteful and actually harms the tree in many ways.

Lynn

I stand corrected. I watched them today plant several trees. The hole is just the right size for the tree ball. They place the tree in the hole, unwrap the top burlap, place the remaining dirt around the top of the tree base. They covered it all with mulch to LOOK like mulch volcanos. Indeed they are not.

They do NOT follow any of the guidelines for tree planting. I wonder how they will do in the long run.

I assume the burlap will degrade with time. In the meantime, I also assume new tree roots will begin at the top were the burlap has been pulled away. Is this a way NOT to dig a bigger hole. Just mound the dirt around it to allow the roots to eventually break down the soil beneath the hole?

Visually, they do look pretty. Interesting!!

In AZ, landscapers make the mounds larger to give the appearance of hills adding depth to the landscape. This way, the landscapers do not have to dig through all the hard cleachy. I didn't know VA soil was so hard.

I also assume the builder is putting fresh mulch around the year old trees to protect the roots that have grown from the mound. Of course, give the landscape that fresh look. It is spring, afterall.

Thanks for all the feedback.

The trees will settle, so it's safer to plant a little 'high' to allow for settling. A tree planted too low will not survive.

Along my street, everyone has bart pears, and or one kind or another ornamental cherry tree. And every one of them do that. They pile mulch around the trunks. I am the only one that doesn't. Its the old story about monkey see, monkey do. also keeping up with jones's - if one guy has 6 inches, then 12 inches is more impressive. Also the snails, termites, and other harmful insects just love the stuff!

Dirt piled around the base of a tree is supposed to be a big no-no, and disguising it with mulch doesn't change that. I had to remove "dirt volcanoes" that were piled around several of our trees when we bought the house. My guess is that the previous owner ordered the landscaper to do it, so she wouldn't have to pay for mulch each year. We recently lost two of those trees, big oaks, and the dirt piled around their base for many years may have been a factor.

Thankfully the builder sent someone around to all the trees and watered a few gallons of water. The tree leaves were looking pretty weepy. We are expecting rain so I am sure the trees will get enough water.

OR I will have to water the ones close to the house. Just have to. You know?

I mulch all my trees to the drip line (until they get big) about 4 inches deep. I have a hole in the middle so the mulch is not against the bark, because mice tend to get in and gnaw on the tree in the winter. In the summer the mulching keeps the ground cooler, fewer watering is needed, and the mowers don't hit the trees. I still need to weed because weeds love the mulch too. I also fertilize with a high nitrogen fertilizer once or twice a year because the decaying mulch absorbs some of the nitrogen in the soil and that is a no-no. I have lost very few trees, tand all, well almost all were barerooted and small when I started them.But I watch for decay all the time, and I am sure to keep the mulch from compacting by hoeing and watering. Works for me.