To mulch ring or not?

[kbgfarmer]

What are experienced arborists here thoughts on mulch rings vs letting turf grow all the way to the trunk? I personally dislike the look of mulch rings but am I hindering my young (4 years since transplanted to my lawn) swamp white oaks growth by allowing grass encroachment? I've read grass can rob the tree of nutrients?

[1977212]

lots of golf courses spray around them here.

[rtomek]

A mulched tree will grow faster if it doesn't have to compete with the grass, so I would recommend it for a young tree. Just don't overdo the mulch with a mulch volcano, you want to keep the root flares exposed. You only need a 2-2.5 foot radius around the tree for a tree that size.

[Green]

I never understood the mulch thing...but now, I think the real reason to do it is so you avoid hitting the tree with the mower and damaging it, or using a string trimmer near it and damaging it that way. Even with hand shears, it's possible to slice the tree accidently if you get distracted by a mosquito or something. I have a small tree that I hand trim around (but lately haven't even been doing that due to the massive caterpillar infestation)...but might have to do the mulch thing so when other people mow, they don't hit it.

[PSU4ME]

Yes, hitting them with the mower and trimmer are the big issues. Grass has a tough time growing there as well due to the tree taking lots of the water........so at the end of the day you're introducing competition.

You can do it though if looks are important to you on it - just make sure not to damage the tree.

[Green]

Just curious, is it recommended to dig out the grass around the tree, or is it too easy to nick the roots that way and possibly damage them, even infect the tree with disease that way? I would think digging out is the way to go...just there has to be a way to do it and avoid damage.

Also, is mulch any more likely to grow mushrooms than grass?

[ENVY23]

I did it because the trees were robbing the grass of water/nutrients and the grass always looked poor in those areas. Just my opinion, but I think irregular shaped beds with a few small, low maintenance plants(liriope, heuchera, hosta) in it looks better than a perfect circle of nothing but mulch.

[TimmyG]

Re: Is mulching really necessary?
Re: Dirt rings instead of mulching