Anyone use stone as mulch? I’ve used regular bark mulch in the past, but I get lots of voles around. I switched over to stone with a weed fabric underneath on about a dozen of my trees, but I just read the stone can cause root damage in the winter. We do have some bad winters here in Connecticut. I know the bark mulch also breaks down adding nutrients and retains moisture , but it seems like it’s a vole magnet/hideout. I got 5 more trees coming this year and planting 25 more next year, so I want to do it once and not change. Not sure what to go with.
Mulching Apple and Pear
- Thread starter BobinCt
- Start date
yoderjac
5 year old buck +
Yep, many of my trees were planted and then landscaping material was applied. I then put #56 (what they call it here) quarry stone on it to hold it in place. It works fine for me. First, it does not encourage rodents to nest like much and they don't seem to like to walk on it. Second, it does not decompose.
Lately, I've modified my method a bit to increase efficiency. I reduced the diameter of my remesh cages. This lets me get about 15 of them out of a roll and 3' seems to be sufficient diameter. When I apply the landscaping material, I cut a square and then spit it half way up the middle and slide that slit around the tree. I pound my T-post in the split and attach the cage. Now, the cage itself is fully sitting on the landscaping material and it acts as the mulch. No stone is needed to hold it in place and there is nothing to nest in.
I'm not in an area with extreme weather so I can't speak to that.
Thanks,
Jack
Lately, I've modified my method a bit to increase efficiency. I reduced the diameter of my remesh cages. This lets me get about 15 of them out of a roll and 3' seems to be sufficient diameter. When I apply the landscaping material, I cut a square and then spit it half way up the middle and slide that slit around the tree. I pound my T-post in the split and attach the cage. Now, the cage itself is fully sitting on the landscaping material and it acts as the mulch. No stone is needed to hold it in place and there is nothing to nest in.
I'm not in an area with extreme weather so I can't speak to that.
Thanks,
Jack
