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Best tree mulch and feed?
chloe_shepherd27
Posts: 6
We have some slightly poorly trees. They are being eaten by pests and we think it’s due to the drought. Ive been looking into tree care as we only recently moved to the property and trees are new to us. I will of course give them a really good water, but I have also seen we need to dig a ring around the base and put mulch in it.
This might be a stupid question but does anyone know the best form of mulch for a tree? Also is there any sort of tree food we can get? The trees are well established (not new ones) if that makes any difference?
I have also read that we should aerate around the roots and prune any dead branches. Is there anything else we should look at doing that I’ve missed? Thank u so much for ur help!
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Some photos would help if you can manage. It's difficult to offer advice without seeing the whole situation
The icon that looks like a mountain is the one for uploading.
It does sound like they've been dry, and stressed [many people have had this problem in the last couple of years] which makes them more vulnerable to pests and diseases, but water alone may not be enough if they're already established and have got really dried out, and the watering has to be really thorough to be effective. A mulch helps retain moisture too, so it isn't a good idea to apply it before the trees are well hydrated.
It will also depend on the type of tree. If they're conifers for example, and are brown, they're unlikely to recover.
Don't feed them - that's never a good idea when something is struggling.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Nothing much to worry about. Are they all planted into the grass? Grass can be competition for water, so it's always good to have a bit of room round the tree clear of any turf. That also makes it easier for feeding or mulching etc. if needed
I think the one with the dark foliage is just old, and past it's best, but the leaf damage is nothing too serious - there's some leaf miner there, but nothing major.
It can benefit some older trees to have dead and crossing/rubbing branches removed, but it's best done in late autumn into winter when they're dormant, and it's easier to see what needs taken out. Ideally, you want a good airflow through trees, so removing those helps that.
It looks as if it's been pollarded in the past too - that just means all the branches have been cut back to the main trunk, and there's then new growth forming the canopy of the tree. You can see where the heftier branches spreading from the main trunks become finer. That's often done to prevent a tree becoming too big for the space.
The other two are fine. It's fairly normal for any tree to have some foliar damage by this time of year, especially when the weather has been a bit up and down.
If the ground round them is dry, you can certainly water - a good couple of buckets for each one, and then apply some compost or bark in a thick layer. Mature trees should have a good root system which means they can access moisture much further down, so they shouldn't really need it, but it will do no harm if you haven't had much rain recently.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I'd remove the turf and then water, unless it's really dry, in which case do both. Turf is easier to lift when it's damp.
If the ground's nice and damp below the turf, you won't need to water, but can just add a mulch which is always a good thing to do. It helps keep weeds down, and generally helps the soil condition too, as it'll work down into the soil over the winter. You can keep applying it at regular intervals too, especially if you're in a drier area, but do it when the soil is damp so that moisture's retained.
Compost or leaf mould is ideal, or even bark. Well rotted manure too - not fresh stuff. All of those will help feed the soil over time, which is all the trees will need.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...