There are many benefits of adding woodchips to your trees.  Woodchips help retain soil moisture. They decompose over time which results in nutrient leaching. They also help smother any weeds or invasive plants that might sprout up.  Before adding woodchips, it is always a good idea to aerate the tree root zone. This will improve leaching and supply more oxygen to the roots.  The presence of oxygen will encourage more growth.

Wrongly Placed Woodchips Can Be Detrimental

All this seems very beneficial for the tree. However, in the urban landscape we see trees that have an excessive amount of woodchips mounded around the root zone and tree trunk.  When woodchips are in direct contact with the tree trunk for an extended period of time, the moisture from the woodchips can cause rot in the tree trunk. This can cause the tree to decline and die.

Mushrooms or fruiting bodies are an indication of decay.  Be sure to examine your trees for these indicators. You can prevent premature decline and trunk rot by carefully spreading the woodchips around the root zone and not around the trunk in a saucer-like fashion.

Trees definitely benefit from woodchips when applied correctly.  The moisture retention and steady organic leaching will keep your tree healthy and vigorous for seasons to come.

Soil Compaction Affects Trees

Another overlooked landscape issue that dramatically affects trees is soil compaction.  Often in urban landscapes factors like human foot traffic, torrential rain down pours, construction and heavy machinery can all contribute to soil compaction.  When the soil becomes compacted, water and nutrients can’t percolate through the soil. As a result, the soil is left dry and without minerals.  Tree roots also have a harder time pushing through the soil which creates stress to the tree.

Prevent Soil Compaction with Tree Protection Zones (T.P.Z.) During Construction

These conditions, if left unattended, will cause the tree to slowly decline.  A common way to protect tree root zones from construction is to set up a Tree Protection Zone (T.P.Z.). This is a fenced off area in which heavy equipment and machinery will not pass over.  Heavy machinery compacts soil to an extreme and can even crush root tissues.

If you have questions about the health of your trees, please contact our experts at Alexander Tree Care today.

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Till next time,

Alexander