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Vertical Mulching

Subject: Vertical Mulching
From: Clive Mayhew
Date: Jan 21 2002 12:30:01
Big year for us - at the end of this planting season we'll have over 1,500 trees out there with sustained and maintained woodchip mulch rings around each and everyone - thinking of having a street party to celebrate around the end of June when they're in full leaf!
 
I'm not going to bang on again about the survival rates, increment increases etc, etc. As Bill (was it Bill?) said - go and try it yourselves, I'm sure most of you have a bit of spare woodchip laying around.
 
With reference to the Kew trials, I seem to remember that each tree was subject to mechanical decompaction, along with the application of large mulch rings. I always thought this methodology was a bit flawed as how can you attribute the perceived beneficial effects of each process?
 
Also, the mulch applied at Kew is not pure woodchip but the excellent compost they produce from a full range of plant material - plus a rear end contribution from the Household Calvary. I don't know if this makes a difference, though my own gut feeling it that it provides no additional benefit to plain 'cooked' woodchip.
 
Anyone who has experienced it cannot fail to be impressed by the speed, extent and depth to which woodchip mulches are drawn down into the soil profile. With this in mind, I remain sceptical with regards to radial and vertical mulching techniques as being too invasive and potentially damaging to struggling or failing root systems and would regard them as a counsel of last resort.

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