Mulch no more! At least, not a for a year or two.

As I'm out there pruning and weeding around town, I'm seeing a lot of plants that are buried in mulch. Mulch can be a big help with reducing weeds and holding moisture in the soil, but like all good things, beware of too much. 

Mulch piled against the base of a tree or shrub will cause the bark to soften, making the plant more vulnerable to pests and diseases. When the mulch is too deep, it prevents water and oxygen from getting to the roots of the plant. Often, the plant will redirect its energy to growing new roots closer to the surface, in the mulch, which really doesn't provide much nutrition.  

The upshot of all this is a stressed plant. When plants get stressed, they produce hormones that signal insects to them. So a stressed plant can quickly become an infested or diseased plant.

If the promise of carefree native plants has eluded you, check the mulch. There should be no mulch against the bark or stems. Mulch immediately under the plant should be no more that 2-3 inches deep. If you find roots in the mulch, the original roots may no longer be functioning. If you value the tree highly, consulting an arborist may be worthwhile in this case. 

Once the mulch is no longer harming the plant, it may take a season to two for them to fully recover. Keep the faith! In most cases a full recovery occurs with new, healthy foliage and more flowers on their way.