Mulching rose bushes and shrubs and grasses - Ask Extension
A commercial company has mulched all the plants, from grasses to trees, at my senior living complex with 1 inch of compost and 3 inches of hickory mul...
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Mulching rose bushes and shrubs and grasses #889569
Asked November 08, 2024, 8:43 PM EST
A commercial company has mulched all the plants, from grasses to trees, at my senior living complex with 1 inch of compost and 3 inches of hickory mulch. The mulch is up against and in the bottom-most branches. I have attached photos.
What is the science-based response to this-- should the mulch be removed, and how many inches out? If so, please explain the science behind this removal so that I can use this information to speak with the person in charge of landscape maintenance.
Thank you
I spoke w Hayley Vause of at the Lake Oswego Urban Forestry conference last Saturday, and she suggested I write to you.
Clackamas County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi Felicia and thanks for your question and great pictures of the intense mulching job done at your living place. I believe most of the plants will be fine and may actually benefit by having their roots well covered this winter if we get a heavy freeze.
However, come Spring, it would be good to move the mulch at least 4 inches away from the base of the plant stalks, especially roses and trees. The reasons are twofold: voles that live under the mulch may chew on the bark if it goes right up to the plants, and diseases that travel through water are held against the plant's stems when they start to grow and come out of dormancy.
The grasses should be fine, as they would normally "mulch themselves" with dead leaves. And if there is no vole activity, the only thing to be concerned about is plants that don't look healthy as they grow next spring.
I hope this helps and it's actually great that the place you live is willing to pay to mulch the plants instead of just spraying weeds or laying down plastic.
However, come Spring, it would be good to move the mulch at least 4 inches away from the base of the plant stalks, especially roses and trees. The reasons are twofold: voles that live under the mulch may chew on the bark if it goes right up to the plants, and diseases that travel through water are held against the plant's stems when they start to grow and come out of dormancy.
The grasses should be fine, as they would normally "mulch themselves" with dead leaves. And if there is no vole activity, the only thing to be concerned about is plants that don't look healthy as they grow next spring.
I hope this helps and it's actually great that the place you live is willing to pay to mulch the plants instead of just spraying weeds or laying down plastic.
