Nice job, might want to mention why you don't want more than a few inches of mulch around a tree. See people that every year keep adding new mulch to make it look "nice". The correct way is to remove the previous years mulch and then put new down. If you keep adding much around a tree you'll eventually end up with what looks like a mulch volcano around the tree. By doing that when the mulch gets deep the roots will start thinking they are in dirt and start growing through the mulch encircling the trunk and actually the tree will strangle itself. By raking the mulch off every year you can spot this and remove the roots that are growing in the mulch layer.
I can't wait to get invited over for apple crisp, come on trees grow faster.
I'm looking forward to it as well!
Nice job, might want to mention why you don't want more than a few inches of mulch around a tree. See people that every year keep adding new mulch to make it look "nice". The correct way is to remove the previous years mulch and then put new down. If you keep adding much around a tree you'll eventually end up with what looks like a mulch volcano around the tree. By doing that when the mulch gets deep the roots will start thinking they are in dirt and start growing through the mulch encircling the trunk and actually the tree will strangle itself. By raking the mulch off every year you can spot this and remove the roots that are growing in the mulch layer.
You mention the graft spot. You might want to also tell people why every apple tree you buy is a graft and not grown from seed.
Valid points, thanks for the thoughts!