Tree Edging and Mulching Mastery | Tips for Picture-Perfect Circles

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

All My Favorite Tools: geni.us/VYIp51 DISCLAIMER: This video and description contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission.

[@danielsden28]

Great video. I looked through your list of tools and didn't see that edging tool. What tool is that? Looks like it works great!

[@davidtall282]

@@danielsden28 found it at Lowe's. Corona 5.8-in Carbon Steel Multipurpose Garden Hand Tool

[@Brian-Burke]

Finally someone who doesn't want to make a mulch volcano. I see it all the time and it's just landscaping companies wanting to make more money from clients and it's bad for trees. Top work.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Thanks Brian.

[@DKrage01]

100% agree with your tree mulch application instruction! Prior to retiring I owned a mulch supply business. On my web site I provided similar instruction to what you showed in this video. Kudos! It drove me nuts when I saw “volcano” rings around trees. When you observe trees growing in the forest as God has planted them there are no “volcanos”.

[@ghettostreamlabs5724]

Just built a house and I specifically told the landscapers to plant our trees flush with the ground. Of course, they all have volcano mulch rings. Trees were planted in late November, so roughly 6 months ago. Is it too late to remove the mulch volcano? I am in Alabama if climate is a factor.

[@DuncanMcDowell]

@@ghettostreamlabs5724 Never too late to remove the volcanos and expose the root flare

[@randymillhouse791]

"Doug, this is God. Don't be dissin' on volcanoes. I created those too ya know."

[@Sembazuru]

I was confused about mulch "volcanoes" around trees for a while. See, I'm interested in geology so have studied on my own among other things volcanoes. And one common feature of volcanoes is the caldera, a depression in the middle. So, I thought all the talk about not volcanoing a tree with mulch was to not leave a caldera perimeter (i.e. central depression) of mulch around the trunk of the tree. But that is exactly what you do want if applying a deep mulch ring. So, I guess, what you want is a shield volcano shape with low, shallowly sloping sides and with the tree coming out of the caldera, not a cinder volcano with tall, steeply sloping sides.

[@randymillhouse791]

@@Sembazuru Yeah, that thingy.

[@cah48]

I have planted trees for over 5 decades - doing it wrong! Wow....how interesting it is to finally see that the 'flare' shouldn't be covered with mulch and explaining those 'hairy' roots. Thank you so much!

[@nellocarlini6148]

🫡 Yes Adventitious fiberous feeder roots Install tree at the birth grade level. This old house "how to properly mulch around a tree". Reveal primary root flare w/ Trunk flare excavation.

[@donaldrogers2411]

10/10 perfect execution. Mulch Volcano is the best way to tell a hack from a true professional

[@suzanne9622]

Thank you! This is the BEST tree circle video I have ever seen and I have been watching tons of them. Simple, straightforward and critical tip at the end!! I will be putting this to use tomorrow.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Best of luck on the project!

[@AndrewPoe-p5d]

Dude thank you so much, was trying to use an extension cord and was struggling. The ratchet strap idea is so good!! Gonna use that forever.

[@Anamnesis]

Real fun project for young trees with shallow roots. Have fun digging around them!

[@tretre1692]

Fantastic video explaining the root flare and the importance of it!! I forget the exact depth, but about 80% of tree roots are in the first 6-12 inches! Very important to the tree’s health! Love videos like these! Thanks for sharing the knowledge on this topic!

[@JudicialMermaid]

I know this comment is 3 months old, but you are correct. Tree roots do not actually grow down deep like we see on “tree of life” or “family tree” diagrams. They are very shallow and spread outward across the planting area like arms. Not downward into the earth like legs. Pretty neat.

[@mikesmith4352]

Thanks so much for pointing out to keep the root flare clear- it is a leading cause of most tree deaths. The real reason for this is to allow air to go into the trunk bark for the tissue underneath. Also, I recommend adding amendment to the soil before the mulch, plus a flexible plastic edging around the circle for a clean edge to weed whip against

[@hassanbazzi3545]

Nicely done. I have been doing all wrong. Thank you for sharing

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

You bet!

[@deroux]

You have such a great channel. My dad was a great at home repairs so I know a lot about home repairs, but I've also picked up some great tips from you. Thanks!

[@shangrilahomestead9930]

Awesome information in this video. A video that anyone doing yard work services should be watching first. Thank you for sharing this with us.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

You bet and thanks for the support

[@carebearrulz333]

Whoops I went backwards I just laid mulch down and now going back onto videos to see how to actually lay mulch down oops

[@gobbletegook]

Nice job. I rigged up a stranded cable years ago to make the perfect circles like this.... I've got two trees along the road and using this method always helps me to make them both perfect and aligned uniformly with each other. Also, its good to see you using the cypress blend mulch. It works well, smells nice (if around the house or patio) and because of the natural oils in it, it keeps a lot of bugs away for a few months. People who use a shredded hardwood mulch end up complaining about the mushrooms and/or dog vomit slime mold that grows on it naturally in wet weather. Then they wrongly blame the people that sold them the mulch as selling a bad product.

[@Tinyteacher1111]

I agree! My landscape people used a hardwood triple shredded mulch and installed it extremely unevenly! The deep parts are growing mold and there is zero mulch other places. They were supposed to use Preen and didn’t. It’s a mess! Weeds are everywhere in one month and I’m disabled and 4’ 9”. I’ve had to break my back and uncover plants I had that they covered up and redistribute mulch. This required me to hire some extra help. I’m not happy!

[@chrishebert5672]

Glad you mentioned the issue with "mulch volcanoes". The city of Houston has planted many trees along one of the bike trail. Every single one has a giant mulch volcano extending up to a foot up the trunk. Landscapers here do the same thing with every tree they plant. I see homes with up to 2 ft of soil packed up against the trunks of their trees, using the area around the trees as a flower bed. Same thing happened when I had a Red Oak planted in my backyard back in 2008. It came in a 100-gal container. Nursery workers piled up mulch around the tree, covering the root flare. I removed the mulch and my tree is very large now, covering the whole back yard. I think landscapers do this for two reasons. First reason is they are just ignorant of the proper way to plant a tree. Second, the up-charge of adding the big mulch volcano.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Yeah, kind of crazy how common this is all over the US.

[@guyincognito320]

Love seeing dozens of horrible weed trees like bradford pears buried in a dome of red dyed mulch every time I leave the house. I wonder why common sense doesn't tell people not to smother a large portion of the tree with wood chips. It blows my mind that everyone does this. What even is the impulse here, to direct the eye to mulch? What? Why?

[@gobbletegook]

@@guyincognito320 People seem to think that it is pretty I guess. I almost always remove much before adding new stuff to top it off every year, carting the old stuff to the back lot line where no one sees it.

[@Maggie-Gardener-Maker]

Great video, I will be recommending this for instruction to everyone I know because it's the best explanation and demonstration I have seen anywhere including the county extension agents and master gardeners workshops! I always tell people plant high it won't die, plant low it won't grow because my mentor and instructor taught me that mantra but it doesn't really explain to people that it's the root flare we don't want to cover. Thanks, and I hope it's ok that I share this video to educate people I come in contact with.

[@THEFOXTHATROXTHEBOX]

This video is EXACTLY what I need!! Thank you!!!

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

You bet, best of luck on your project!

[@THEFOXTHATROXTHEBOX]

Thank you very much!!

[@erfojtik]

Thank you for advocating for the root flare! You’re the best!

[@reginafallangie2867]

I learned about root flare, root collars, the hard way after losing a 15yr old tree. It’s vital for the health of the tree but it’s not common knowledge to the average person. Also, when u buy a tree, u need to dig out quite a bit from around the base of the tree. It’s amazing how much of it is buried and will cause the tree to eventually suffocate.

[@gordonclark6828]

I've been using the Andersons Four Step on my lawn for several years and have had great success. I even get the grub control at a discount with their spring special.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Nice, thanks for the feedback and I have a little work to do but hopefully we will get the yard back in shape.

[@chriszimmerman2938]

Great video. Let the dandelions grow. Great early Spring nutrition source for honey bees when other sources are not yet available.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

You bet!

[@christytaylor401]

So good I messed up with my first one

[@chrisfergon2364]

I was in landscape maintenance for many years, and I can’t tell you how many trees we killed because the guys on the string trimmers were too aggressive and over time the outer layers were removed. This project solves that!

[@gerryhenning7337]

Another thing to keep in mind Scott is with a raw edge like this is to not have the mulch actually piled up to the grass as bluegrass spreads by way of rhizomes so if the mulch is piled up near the grass it can spread into the mulch even with the pre-emergent.

[@JamieE76]

Good advice! I'm always surprised at how many people still think it's okay to mound trees with mulch, and I still see it everywhere.

[@CyArch97]

Right, even supposed professionals do it all day long!

[@ceedub7374]

Good idea on the circle perimeter. Never thought of that.

[@TRG972]

Getting ready to do this same project. Great timing! Thanks for the tip about using a tie down strap.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

You bet, best of luck on the project!

[@bazoobass]

Great tips mate! Nice and tidy job too. Although I wouldn't put Preen or any weedkiller anywhere close to my trees, especially around my fruit trees. A layer or two of carboard will prevent weeds way longer than 6 months as Preen claims to. And it's natural! I first remove any tap root perennials using a hand weeder or a trowel, then remove the turf, then lay carboard and mulch.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@DMUSA536]

Nice to see you have done it properly. I won’t use mulch because it always blows into the grass. Going with stone

[@donaldkeefe5688]

Like the way you explain things. Straight forward!

[@TheKingOfInappropriateComments]

This is the correct way. Well done. Looks good. 👍

[@jonniesantos]

I’m tempted to try this on some Washingtonian palms. I’ve got a circle with topical plants I used the black bark over a layer of weed block fabric; works well. I edge with glyphosate.

[@diarrhea_splatter]

I enjoy glyphosate, but the lymphoma I developed is not as enjoyable.

[@bwelty64]

I followed your technique, turned out great. Thanks!!!!

[@weekendhomeprojects]

I have a mulch volcano video. My Tuplip Poplar was burried for 15 years. I removed the volcano to some concerning conditions, but am hopeful it survives for another 20-100 years.

[@monikamakarewicz4697]

i was hoping you said what to do if you have a tree that has the small roots as you showed, should they be left in tact or cut and the dirt and mulch pulled back?...also i was hoping you had good suggestions for edging. I hate that black plastic stuff, it does not stay in. im on a super tight budget. thanks

[@topperdude2007]

Good tip about mulch around the root flare - our city planted young trees by the sidewalk a couple years back and this year we were planning on topping off the mulch (especially with the sale prices Menards has been having recently on their mulch). Will remember the tip about mulch around the flare. The BIGGER challenge we have been facing is mulch sliding /washing away / flying out of the landscaped area due to it being on slopes (think slopes on the sides of the house due to a basement walkout). And since we live on a hill in one of windiest cities in upper Midwest (that is NOT Chicago), we loose a lot of mulch each year where we need to top it off every year with 10-15 bags just due to the amount of mulch being washed or blown away (even though we have pavers edging around the landscape. Your lot looks relatively flat but would appreciate if you (or your viewers) might have any tips for keeping the mulch inside the landscaping area. And yes, on one side of the house that is more steep than others we do have a decent size retaining wall as well. Thanks. Great video as always. 👍

[@mikesmith4352]

I use jute netting on slopes to retain the mulch, also using mulch from tree services which has various size pieces which knit together and minimize blowing away

[@rml015]

Reach out to an earthwork contractor or landscape supply company and see if you can get a few yards of erosion control mix (ECM) delivered. It’s usually a mix of large and small wood scraps, some gravel and dirt, rocks, etc, and tends to prevent erosion and washout. You can use that as a nice base and then add some mulch. Won’t help much with the wind blowing it away, but should help with it being washed away.

[@topperdude2007]

@@rml015 and @Mike Smith - Thank you so much for your responses. I feel more informed and less "lost" now with the information you have provided and will certainly look into these products. Appreciate the advice and recommendations. 👍

[@delg1211]

“Lose” not “loose” :)

[@marlettamcclain1950]

Very well done video. Super informative.

[@Lou_Mansfield]

I have a backyard tree where the root system choked it to death from over mulching. It's sad, but the previous homeowner didn't know any better. I left the tree snag up, hopefully critters and birds can still make use of it.

[@jbearmcdougall1646]

Great video.. although I never use any chemicals near anything I like to see growing.. I simply weed by hand, and try and be as Organic as possible..

[@I.M.Cheryl]

So glad to learn how to keep a tree healthy when doing mulch! Need to refresh our hibiscus. I wonder if there are roots from mulching too close on it should they be trimmed off?

[@planetfabulous5833]

Is there anything this man can't do! He's amazing!

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

😁 thanks for the kind words. A lot of parts to maintaining a home 👍

[@aprilstar3572]

I love your videos , I really needed this information , Thank you

[@Webpixum]

Hi. Thanks for the video tips. I was wondering about the size of the circle does it have to be 3ft.? what is the minimum size I should go?

[@pravinpatel8322]

Looking at your video for mulching base of tree ,I have secondary roots around my trees. Do you cut all these secondary roots and remulch tree from beginning. Thanking you for your advice.

[@tgeliot]

Interesting that you say the mulch ring helps let more moisture reach the tree roots. I heard another pro say that the reason so many young trees in new developments look so sickly is that when the surrounding grass is given enough water, it's too much for the tree, and it drowns the roots.

[@terran5569]

Different tree varieties have different requirements.

[@cairozulu6700]

Very important and helpful video, thank you.

[@patrickursomanno8861]

Nice to see "real" dirt, in live in Florida and its mostly sand.

[@usa91787]

Does it have to be a circle? We have a row of trees we want to mulch around at our campsite that are only a couple of feet apart. It's a rented sited so there's no way we're going to cut any down.

[@Ganstack]

@EverydayHomeRepairs what would you do to save a tree which has developed a secondary root system due to a mulch volcano? Should I cover the new mini roots or expose them ?

[@LemonDropYum]

Do you have a video on how to treat a tree that's had it's root flare covered and has the secondary root system? The previous owner planted nice fruit and decorative trees but covered all the flares. I checked and they all have new roots.

[@randymillhouse791]

Thanks. I just freed the flair roots of both my trees. The whole time I was working on them I couldn't get the wrestler Rick Flair outta my mind! So, thanks for that, I guess.

[@jeepgurl1379]

Nature Boy!😂

[@randymillhouse791]

@@jeepgurl1379 Holy crackers I didn't even realize that was his nickname!

[@scottsanford216]

Is the Anderson four step the same as the IFA four step?

[@jayjudd6518]

❤Great project like the circle cutting idea. To bad for me cant get on my knees anymore.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Yeah, these are pretty physical projects for sure. I am going to start also including cost estimators if you hire out the work and point you in the direction to trusted professionals in your area. 👍

[@abe677]

Nice job. I have a live oak I need to do something with so this was timely. There's a good video somewhere about that "no float" wood mulch. Spoiler - it floats. Worth a watch before you decide what mulch to use.

[@dang3178]

Can I put river rocks on top of the mulch wood chips?

[@bradneilly]

Another great part of this edging technique is that you can easily make it bigger from year to year as a young tree grows

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Bonus 👍

[@GKofTX]

My newly planted trees has grass and weeds growing at the base. I'm going to add mulch as you show. But before I add mulch do I need to clear the area of weeds and grass? Should I add "Landscape Fabric" before I add the mulch?

[@SuperMan-bh9lq]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA " This is a good time to call the kids to burn off their energy" LOL LOL LOL LOLLOL LLOLL I Love it!!!!! The BEST advice on the net. hahahahaha

[@ItsSewpy]

What can you do with trees that already have those secondary root systems?! I’m finally getting around to redoing the landscape around my house since we just moved in a year and a half ago, I’m on to the trees now and they have these roots that pretty much run right along the top layer of dirt around the trunk, I can’t even edge around the tree because all these little roots are there!

[@jamil1637]

Great video ! I noticed Preen is not available in Canada, is there any other product that you would recommend that would be as effective as Preen ? Thanks

[@TheXerosyn]

I have a planter bed I am doing this too to make it nicer for when we sell our house. Its full of weeds, but I have like 4-5 scrubs in it. How can I kill the weeds without damaging the scrubs in order to put down the mulch. Also do I wanna use cardboard or the screening stuff?

[@jayong2370]

Looks great. Good job!

[@aaro_n]

I knew you'd mention the root volcano!

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

🌋

[@cbav8r]

Any recommendation for choking out blackberry vines from landscaped areas?

[@xiatian80]

Whats the brand of your edger? Looks very easy to use. Cannot find it in your amazon store. Thanks

[@mayradanaher3572]

Where can I get a tool like yours? I only could found other type of edger and spades

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Here is the one I used amzn.to/43XdjGm I think Lowe's also carries this brand.

[@annchee1329]

Just curious, if Preen is an organic weed killer, esp if we are ingesting our fruits , or can we just avoid Preen and just mulch as is? Thanks

[@kdegutis]

Excellent information.

[@cg1492]

I can't find Preen in Canada. Is there a similar product you can recommend?

[@KH-yz6eu]

Will Preem kill the burmuda grass from growing into the tree ring?

[@SleepCycle1]

If j don’t have an edger will a square point shovel work

[@eddievargas7680]

How do you keep grass trimmings out when you mow the lawn?

[@reginafallangie2867]

Bag them.

[@jonathansteffler1597]

Always good to drive a fertilizer spike or two in the dripline since you have the soil exposed.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Thanks for the feedback 👍

[@ronalcasid3844]

Does the excessive mulch create an environment sucker sprouts to grow?

[@Lonestardebater]

Do you have any concerns about the pre-emergent being spread in unwanted ways around your lawn by pets, rain, or other animals?

[@jackbloznowski5429]

Instead of adding toxins to our planet, use cornmeal as a weed control under the mulch.

[@aarongaines8269]

Could you do this with potting soil and put plants in it?

[@swgforthefence]

You don’t need to do that. It’s just extra work extra cost . You will need a trimmer though, and you just trim along your line of the mulch by the grass. Not every time you mow maybe every other time or so .

[@budgetaudiophilelife-long5461]

THANKS SCOTT, I LOVE ❤ YOUR TIPS FOR THE TREE RINGS…and all the other reasons for mulching…I have used them for years ( except preen )…I ended up only using CEDAR MULCH.(more cost 💰) but NO BUGS 🐜 EARWIGS OR OTHERS…In the long run peace of mind.. for the wife 👩‍🦰💚💚💚

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Thanks for the feedback, and continue support for the channel 👍👍

[@katevera1212]

Do you recommend covering exposed tree roots with mulch? We have a mature tree with large exposed roots

[@reginafallangie2867]

Our arborist told us no. But I would recommend a professional to see your specific situation to determine, in case it’s different from ours

[@ABSOLUTfiftytwo]

Help!!! 😭 I’m trying to simply do a nice (level) Circle around my old tree? I got solid roots that have grown up out…I’m lost ? What would you suggest?

[@ABSOLUTfiftytwo]

How can I send you pictures

[@swgforthefence]

@@ABSOLUTfiftytwo That’s another video That’s a different tree issue This video is for this situation only Landscaping is NOT one size fits all No 2 issues are the same 👉🏽You simply can’t do this on a 100-year-old tree that has 6 to 8 inch THICK tree roots above ground coming out of it😂

[@danfromorlando]

why not a physical weed barrier/tarp.... what happens when the pre-emergent dissolves?

[@reginafallangie2867]

You want to have a mulch ring the size of the tree’s canopy circumference, at least while the tree is young. Weed barrier (even fabric) doesn’t have the breathability the roots need. Weed block too close to any plant is not a good idea.

[@murd777]

Mulch and grass are almost at the same level. I think is better to make the circle line a little deeper

[@tammyvinas2120]

Great idea ❤

[@abdulsamadi9592]

Helpful 😊.

[@nellocarlini6148]

Right on brother. Flat is where its at. Show off your trees flare.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

👊

[@Creechimport]

Good information to know

[@swgforthefence]

LOL😂

[@orlandotrevino3402]

What’s the difference between natural and rubberized mulch?

[@kevinshea4776]

Surprised how many landscaper I see cover the root flare!

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

me too, some in our area aggressively apply mulch to make about an 8-10 inch volcano 😬

[@kovako6723]

As a pro gardener, i agree on the unnecessary overmulching, but you need a very-very heavy overuse to suffocate a tree. Which even then depends on the species, the soil, the amount of water, the tree get, the development of the root system, and the type of mulch you use. It can happen only on extreme cases of all (or most) factors aligned together. Mulch is generally doesn't close the soil, it creates a very breathable layer even when it is composted, and developed trees are quite resilient, when a new layer of soil buries (or open up by errosion) the root system (which happens in the forrest quite often). Up to 3 inch layer of mulch around the trunk, it is unlikely to have any root damage, though the tree will develop a new root system into the composted mulch over time, which is the real problem. Snce your mulch volcane will turn into soil in a few years, if you keep adding a thick layer of mulch onto it, you will end up having a hill around the trunk, you can't eliminate since its full of roots.

[@robertbrink5997]

What would be a good price to charge somebody for something like this a tree?

[@dashcammer4322]

I don't like trees anywhere near my foundation. I don't even like larger shrubs near the foundation. It's not just the possibility of roots pushing on or growing under the foundation. it's having to prune a lot of the tree or shrub away because it's too close to a building. Not the one in the foreground; the one by the corner of the house. I'd have ripped that one out the same year I bought the house.I like letting trees and shrubs grow to their natural shape and dimensions, only pruning as needed for the health of the plant.

[@ABSOLUTfiftytwo]

No metal or plastic edging??

[@vinnybauer4205]

Greetings. Looks Great. Professional. Chief Ken Bauer, USAF (Ret)

[@erickjason9092]

Are you wearing eye liner?

[@vaper106]

So why did you leave the tree in the back yard? Some expert

[@CHICAGO-IL]

Superb

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Thanks!

[@richardschneller7674]

I’m curious about the product… preen

[@theresadavis7440]

What is the best way to get rid of dandelions?

[@irafair3015]

Don't. they are a food source for bees in Spring.

[@dontblameme6328]

That would be one giant ant mound in the south.

[@theclock5445]

Not to to be the turd in the punch bowl and bust up a good "theory", but how much water do you think it takes to completely saturate a couple handfuls of mulch? The answer is very, very, very, little. Mulch around the trunk of a tree does very little to inhibit water getting to the tree. The mulch will nearly instantly be saturated and the additional water will run right off...onto the ground...as if there was no mulch. The mulch actually combats evaporation to atmosphere, retaining moisture at the tree/root surface. It's not concrete, it's mulch.

[@FrancineZack-hd6gn]

❤I thought you ❤ shouldn't put mulch up to the tree it m❤akes the roots come up for water