How do I create an edge around this tree? We are required to keep fresh mulch at the base of it.?

Question

Here's a pic of the base of the tree.

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/6204/new3060ty5.jpg

I want it to look nice. I was hoping to create an edge between the grass and the mulch.

Any ideas on how I can create the edge?


Thanks for any help!

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tree squirrel: Thanks for the info on pulling back the mulch!

Answer 1

You have a couple of options depending on how much maintenance. you want. You can either dig a natural edge or use vinyl lawn edging. Either way you need to dig a trench around the tree. I would make the circle of mulch so it goes up to the curb so you aren't always trimming next to the curb when you mow. Another option would be to mulch the whole corner and plant a few perennials around the tree. Just an idea. When you re-mulch the tree make sure to keep the mulch off the truck. Otherwise the trunk of the tree will start to decay. I wouldn't worry about the tree wrecking the curb as someone else said. Properly installed sidewalks, streets, curbs, etc. won't be damaged by tree roots.

Answer 2

Well first of all you should be concerned about keeping this tree alive because the way the mulch hugs the tree is bad for it. You should remove any mulch away from the trunk ,pull it back until you see the root (trunk)flare . This is the natural taper of the tree. When you have mulch this close you get a problem with girdling or decay even and soo you won't need to edge this cause the tree wil be in decline. I would just pull back the mulch until you see a flare and then you can pick up an edge from a hardware store that you can wrap around and snap together to complete your circle ,then it pushes in easy by stakes. There you go and save the tree first . Is it a Birch? maybe?

Answer 3

First I'd spray with Roundup to kill the vegetation there now. Then brush away the bark and begin removing any soil on top of the roots, use a brush and scoop carefully. The feeding roots are way beyond the trunk at this point. Then replace the bark mulch all the way to the curb. Normally I'd also put down a landscape fabric on the roots and below the mulch, but I doubt you'll have much soil left to hold the fabric pins. Is the tree too close to the curb? Yep. Eventually the roots will pick up the curb and then the city or township will be ticked off.

Once or twice a year I'd spray Roundup around the mulch if I see the grass making a comeback.

Answer 4

Cheapest way and the way that landscapers do it is to dig an edge. Make an imaginary circle around the tree. Push the mulch toward the tree around the circumference of this circle. Judging from the size, maybe 30" from the trunk of the tree will look nice. Take a shovel and dig straight down in a circle all around the tree. You will make a trench the thickness of the shovel. Take the shovel down this trench and pull back. The dirt will come up. Remove this dirt and sculpt the soil on the mulch side so that it is a rounded curve down to the base of the trench. The trench should be around 4 inches deep and around 6 inches wide. The grass side will be a straight wall 4 inches down. The mulch side will slope to the bottom of the trench. Take the mulch and cover the mulch side to the bottom of the hole.

Answer 5

Spraying the grass that's growing in the mulch with round-up is overkill (no pun intended). Rake off the existing mulch and dig down around the edge of where the mulch was, 2-3 inches deep, removing the grass clumps. Any grass that's growing in the mulched area can be easily removed at this time. Put the mulch back around the tree and keep it slightly away from the trunk.

Visit our website for more gardening ideas at-
http://www.gardening-at-the-crossroads.com/

Good Luck and Happy Gardening from Cathy and Neal!

Answer 6

Edging Around Trees

Answer 7

You can either buy or rent an edger that will give you that little "moat" edge around the outer circumfrence of the mulch. Or you can install whatever edging material strikes your fancy to keep the grass back. Keep in mind that if you install edging material you'll have to weed whip around it. The grass will just grow up at the edge. Definitely get the mulch off the bark of the tree. You're just inviting all kinds of trouble if you keep it up against the tree.

Answer 8

I would use natural stones about 8/9 inch's, you can get them from a riverside or the beach, get ones that are well weathered and sink them about a quarter way into the soil, this will reduce the diameter of the mulch but you will be able to compensate for this by having a thicker mulch, I have done this on all the trees in my lawn and it looks great and so natural, and will last for years and it's free

Answer 9

Get a good [roduct for making the edge like this one at lowes
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=13868-215-13868&lpage=none or this one that is actually cheaper and 3 of these make a 24" circle http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=182130-215-182130&lpage=none
Then clear the vegetation and put down landscaping cloth and refill with mulch (or stone- I think stone looks better than mulch) There ya go!

Answer 10

Street brick may work fairly well for you, and it will last a long time. Some landfills will let you haul street brick off for free, but it should be availible through a good construction supply company, but if you buy from construction supply, some times they have a one palet minimum... which would go about half way up the trunk if you used all of it.