Removed a layer of plastic and rocks from around this huge maple. I’m going to put some edging and then mulch it. Should I use weed barrier or just mulch over the top? And is there any risk to the tree from the exposed roots? Thanks for the advice.
by SpecialSuit424
4 Comments
Apply a mixture of compost, worm castings and mulch on top.
No weed barrier should ever be used under a tree.
Skip the edging.
+1 for no weed barrier.
The barrier can restrict or even block water access and gas exchange.
Weed barriers eventually stop…well, preventing weeds. Soil and other organic matter will eventually gather on top and create a new breeding ground for weeds on top of the fabric, and if the weed roots go *through* the fabric they can become even more difficult to deal with.
It’s best to use a 2-4″ thick layer of organic wood mulch. This is very beneficial to the tree for a host of reasons, but it also does help suppress weed growth. Now, the weeds *will* eventually grow in the mulch, but they are much, much easier to pull from a pile of mulch than through landscape fabric or solid soil.