Mulching is an important practice in tree management of crops and trees but there are common mistakes that farmers make in mulching.
The first mistake that farmers make is that they mulch too close to the base of the trunk. Putting mulch too close to the trunk is not advised because fruit trees do not develop roots at the trunk area hence all the mulch should be put some distance away from the tree trunk because thats where the roots are concentrate.
Tree trunk rot
Mulching close to the tree trank causes trunk rot and this is almost an incurable disease. This is manifested by dropping down of the leaves, the leaves begin to turn yellow as in nitrogen deficiency and the tree will start wilting its way from top to bottom or from bottom to top depending on the severity of the situation.
This can be prevented by just pulling the mulch about an inch or 2 away from the tree trunk to ensure that no moisture collects around the base of the tree trunk.
Other mulching mistakes
The other mistake that beginners make is mulching way too high to about 5 to 6 inches high. This leads to increase in the chances of tree trunk rot because the mulch tends to slide to the tree trunk even if you try to pull it away.
Ideal mulch should be about 3 inches high and this helps keep moisture in the soil, helps insulate the soil, allows the tree to have enough dry out period preventing tree trunk rot.
Type of mulch used is another mistake beginners and professional farmers make. This is because the synthetic mulches made of plastic have dyes and when these break down during the course of their useful life, they end up in the tree and the soil causing negative effects to the soil yet mulch is naturally intended to protect the soil.
