Mulching around your trees with wood chips is a common practice that has many benefits for the roots and bark, particularly for newly-planted trees. Mulching is a good practice for the following reasons:

– It keeps potentially damaging machinery, particularly lawn mowers, away from the trunk and bark.

– Wood chips help retain moisture, which reduces the amount of needed irrigation for the tree.

– Mulching prevents compaction of the soil and reduces foot traffic over the root ball.

– This practice also regulates soil temperatures, providing insulation from excessive heat or cold.

–  Wood chips reduce weed competition.

Add mulch around base of the trees after weeding. For smaller trees 3-4 feet is sufficient, while larger trees may require a higher radius. The chips should be 2-3 inches deep and should not be stacked against the trunk. This practice will save time, water, and improve the health of trees.