Guest post by John Lang of Friendly Tree. With spring right around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about your yard again. One item that should be at the top of your list is applying mulch to your landscape. It’s one of the most important things you can do to keep your trees and plants healthy, but it’s also one of the easiest things to over apply that can have negative effects on your plants. This season is the perfect time to start mulching. Before you get your gardening gloves on, you should know that if done improperly, mulching can actually kill your trees and plants. So, here’s what you need to know to mulch right. First, Choose the Right Kind of Mulch The right kind of mulch does more than just make your yard look good; it adds valuable nutrients to the soil, helps to retain moisture, suppresses weeds and protects your trees’ roots from damage. For trees and shrubs, organic mulch (comprised of live organisms, like wood) is best because it improves and enriches the soil as it breaks down. The most common type of organic mulch is shredded hardwood bark, with many different kinds available at … Continue reading Arborist Advice: Mulching 101