THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Sunday, March 12, 1995                 TAG: 9503100111
SECTION: HOME                     PAGE: G9   EDITION: FINAL 
SERIES: WEEDER'S DIGEST
SOURCE: BY ROBERT STIFFLER, GARDENING COLUMNIST 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   44 lines

MULCH TREES AND SHRUBS TO PREPARE FOR SUMMER

MARCH AND APRIL are ideal months to mulch shrubs and trees. This helps them through the summer months ahead. Three inches of mulch is the recommended amount. This will offset any lack of rain during the summer.

Weather forecasts traditionally predict hot, dry weather for much of the United States during the summer, and Hampton Roads is no exception. Hot, dry weather traditionally results in the death of many new plantings of trees and shrubs, even though most homeowners think they water properly during dry weather.

Proper mulching of trees and shrubs does much to increase their survival rate, in addition to providing many other benefits.

Bark mulch provides a material which slowly decomposes, thus adding to the organic content of the soil. Bark does not seal off at the surface, thus allowing proper penetration of rain, while at the same time retaining sufficient cohesion so that washing and erosion are significantly reduced.

Bark has low heat conducting characteristics, so it results in lower soil temperatures, which enhances root growth. It likewise reduces the air temperature and heat in the area above the mulch. Although stone can be used as a decorative mulch, it does not cool the soil or air like an organic or bark mulch. This is especially important around new plantings.

If you prefer other mulches, pine straw, ground up leaves and compost are also effective. Peat moss does not make a good mulch and should be avoided. Remember that all these mulches can be blown away by a power mower so always be cautious when mowing around mulched areas.

Many homeowners in Hampton Roads cities have started the bad habit of adding new mulch every spring. Sometimes it can get as deep as 4 to 6 inches. This can be harmful to the plant. Do not add bark each spring but rake and renew it. Replace it only as needed to keep it at 3 inches deep. In that way, it provides weed and temperature control all summer, while holding more moisture around your plants during periods of hot, dry weather. by CNB