vertical mulching

[deanewp]

Im curious what you guys think about vertical mulching. Im very familiar with the soil food web so this seems like a good way to quickly introduce good fungi and bacteria to trees suffering from compaction and the like. Im also familiar with air spades (knifes) and replacing soil as a option, that is far more costly.

 

[joehusker]

i have seen great results from vertical mulching on trees with compacted root zones. i will drill 3" holes 18" deep in a grid pattern in the root zone and fill half with pea gravel, 12oz arborgreen and put soil back in.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Some recent studies have shown that vert-mulch is a very localized stop-gap method of care.

over several years there is little movement of microbiota into the compacted native soil. You end up with a bunch of "clay pots" with dense populations of absorptive roots.

It is better if used with radial trenching to allow deeper gas exchange.

That said, if that is what they can afford, then that is what you can do.

I have a friend who does it every year, so that there is a cumulative effect.

 

[HolmenTree]

For some years now [taught through ISA] I have verticle mulched with a gas drill & 2" auger for fertilizing & aeration. I always questioned the side effects of the root damage done while doing it .But it seemed the trees re-vigor offset any damage to its roots being damaged.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I always questioned the side effects of the root damage done while doing it .But it seemed the trees re-vigor offset any damage to its roots being damaged.

Most of the fine roots are as ephemeral as leaves, an roots compartmentalize way better then limbs.

It is only when you are damaging the first order roots that there is need for worry.

That said, using air or water is much better, I've used a hose with a cheap spray attachment on some low budget jobs. One thought is to find the large transport roots and ream down to encourage singer root development. This gives the added benefit of deep watering.

 

[deanewp]

thanks

Thanks for the replies fellas, thats great info.