Photos taken on Scott Blvd south of Main Street.
Who knows when or where this first happened but it's said that it first started in the 70's, when someone piled mulch up high around the trees trunk and formed a cone. Well,,,, now Arborist's all across North America are driving down roads, cringing as they see hundreds, if not thousands trees wrapped tightly in these "tree volcanoes".Mulching around a tree can be a good thing - 1 - it keeps weeds away from the tree.
2 - it prevents grass growing under the tree that will compete for nutrients.
3 - it keeps weed trimmers and other equipment away from the tree.
4 - it helps prevent soil erosion and runoff.
5 - it keeps the roots cooler in summer and warmer in winter.
6 - it postpones freezing of the soil.
7 - it adds nutrients to the soil if it is organic mulch.
8 - it can improve the soil around the tree.
9 - it helps keep moisture in for the roots.
and 10 - it gives the yard a well-maintained appearance.
BUT- in nature
trees grow up and out of the ground from the trees "root flair" and where the mulch volcano extends up and covers the flair and tree trunk, moisture will damage the tree by causing cracks in the bark.
The cracks serve an entry points for fungus, disease, rot, and insects. When you water the tree, it runs off the sides of the volcano instead of penetrating down to the roots. The volcano can keep oxygen from reaching the roots of the tree, suffocating them. Tree roots often grow up into the mulch in search of what they need instead of growing deep into the ground for permanent sources of moisture.
Many of these trees with these volcanoes are on the boulevards around town and are technically owned by the Town of Milton. Many of these trees with volcanoes will not be healthy, some will die, and some will grow but be weak. What a shame.