How to Insulate Your Garden with Mulch

• Start the garden clean-up by pulling up old plants and weeds. Compost plants in a pile or compost bin. Discard weeds.
• With a spade or edging tool, trim back weeds from the edges of raised beds and in-ground gardens.
• Break up and aerate compacted mulch with a digging fork.
• Top with a 2 to 3-inch layer of mulch, such as chopped leaves or wood chips.
• Around the base of raised beds, add a thick layer of wood chips to make mowing easier and reduce trimming.

A ring of mulch around the drip line of a tree helps control erosion and keeps mowers at a safe distance so they don’t injure trunks and roots. Use ready-made mulch rings, or make your own.

When you spread mulch around trees, do not "volcano" mulch or allow it to touch the trunk. This can cause trunk rot and disease and eventually kill the tree.

Here are the types of mulch rings for your trees:

• Recycled rubber. A good choice for eco-friendly gardeners. These rings don’t decompose and you won’t find bits of rubber scattered around. They allow water and nutrients to get to the tree.
• Planting rings. These water rounds are bottomless basins with teeth that press into the ground. Made of recycled plastic, they’re also good for gardeners who like to go green. You can even use them on a slope, or where the ground is hard or heavy in clay. The rings will hold rainfall or water from your hose so it can soak into the ground, instead of running off or evaporating. You can add 2 to 4 inches of mulch in each ring to help retain more moisture.
• Hardscape ring. Use a hose to make a circle, and carefully remove all grass and weeds from inside the circle. Go wide to cover more of the tree’s roots. Be careful to not disturb the roots. Add edging, such as pavers, bricks or stones, just outside the circle. Use a spade or shovel to cut a shallow trench deep enough to hold whatever type of edging you prefer. Put the edging in place. Fill the ring with 2 to 4 inches of mulch.
• Pre-made tree ring. A pre-made ring is an eco-friendly mat that looks and performs like organic mulch but doesn’t decompose or scatter. This tree ring is a snap to install. Simply trace the mat around the tree and use a shovel to outline the shape. Remove all grass and weeds from inside the circle, being careful not to disturb the roots of the tree. Place mat and water well.