To mulch or not to mulch? That is the question......

[Damian Bee]

Its that time of year, Bonsai ambulances can be heard tearing all over the place as growers come home to find their favorite tree all crispy from weather which caught them with their aprons down (sorry I got up on the right side this morning)

I do apply mulch my trees and I am curious, do you?
If you do or don't, please take the time to tick a box and give a reason why.

I know the benefits correct mulching can have on a hot day, it can reduce the need to water more than once per day in summer. I use a well composted coarse mulch that lets the water through evenly. It acts as a insulating blanket and keeps hot sun and wind from cooking the roots.

[Dumper]

Hi Damian.

i dont mulch my trees. i just soak the pots in water during hot weather.
mulch may work too. but by soaking in water, i dont have to water the trees.

John

[paddles]

I don't mulch as such, although I've been known to decorate the pots witha layer of pebbles....

[buddaboy]

I pebble mulch my trees, seems to help offset evaporation here during hots. Also the pebbles dont wash away with the watering.

[Bretts]

I have often seen the advice to mulch or cover the pots of my trees. I think it would cause me more trouble than it solves. I like to see the soil to see what is going on. I am not concerned with losing water I just water more. If the pots where covered in all soughts of mulch carpet rocks or whatever I think checking the soil would become a chore and I may not water as well?
I hear scary advice that a tree's roots will die if the pot gets too hot, which is no issue during Summer as it is said they just grow back but the fear is that the dead roots will rot in the pot over Winter. I have had sun loving trees such as seiju elm in full sun with no cover in all but the hottest days over 45 deg with no issue.
I have various trees including trident maple still growing (haven't gone dormant) in full sun upto 43 deg temps we have been having with very minimal leaf burn. Other cold climate trees are in a shaded area. I might water the benches and the pots on the hottest days but have never mulched.

I tend to try to work on a more general approach of micro climate for the trees that need it.

[FlyBri]

I know the benefits correct mulching can have on a hot day, it can reduce the need to water more than once per day in summer... It acts as a insulating blanket and keeps hot sun and wind from cooking the roots.

Gday Damo!

I agree 100%, and mulch my trees accordingly. I had used crushed bluestone (basalt, "blue metal") as it was readily available and cheap, but being almost black, I fear that it may have been absorbing a lot of heat from direct sunlight. I have since tried a much lighter coloured granitic sand (sifted and washed) which looks much better and does not become so hot when exposed to the sun. Unfortunately, my nearby supply of this granitic sand has dried up lately, so I'm looking for alternatives.

As most of my trees are in training pots, I can afford to 'underpot' them, leaving the soil sitting well below the rim of the pot. I then apply up to 20mm of my chosen mulch (depending upon the size and species of the tree). The use of mulch has the added benefit of slowing the movement of water across the soil, thus ensuring that more water actually penetrates the soil. It also helps to stop my soil floating away when I dunk my trees (which I tend to do more and more often these days... ).

Thanks.

Fly.

[Pup]

I have voted never because I only had two options. I have never considered what I do with the soil covering that I use, as mulch.
After reading the posts here then I have mulched. I am retired so, when it comes to watering.
I have the time and opportunity to water when I want, and my plants need it.
So mulching for water saving during the day is not an issue. I have used shade cloth and old carpet, as a weed retardant, which also act as a mulch. One of the nurseries that has now closed down used carpet on stock in styrene and large Bonsai to help with water retention,and weed control it worked well.

Cheers Pup

[MelaQuin]

I soak sugar cane mulch to be sure it is really wet and put it on top of pots on bonsai that dry fast - like the melaleuca quinquenervia that is voracious in its need for water, now the grey myrtle that is flirting seriously with death, is in a shallow pot and I daren't move it to a deeper one until it either doesn't need it or stabilises. Mulching with sugar cane mulch is messy, especially if you occasionally bench the tree, but it is a big help. I do not do it much at the moment because I am having serious trouble with a lot of the soil I have used and it is drying internally without surface indications. I can't risk mulch cover and hiding a potential problem. But the quinquenervia is in a different batch and no problem. Like Pup my time is my own and yesterday in the 41 degree heat I watered everything twice, some three times but I still feel I need the mulch cover on the grey myrtle. And I don't consider pebbles as mulch. Ground cover, yes, but not mulch.