My daughter always asks me why I stripe my grass and edge the walks and driveways and why I'm sooooo particular about my yard. She says nobody cares. Well...apparently they do. Glad to see there are a lot of others like me. I enjoy your videos man. Keep up the good work.
I didn't give a shit about yards either and didn't get why my mom was so into it. But now that I just bought my own house, well, I'm watching videos like this...
Tell your daughter,that all your neighbors take notice.I have received many compliments on my lawn and yard.One person said it looked like the Augusta National Golf Course.
A lot of others oblivious to the arboricultural rule to never raise the grade around base of tree, end up continually tossing soil back toward trunk everytime they recut surrounding edge. So it's cool that you teach your daughter how one must remove some of the old mulch layer before putting down a new layer.
Quick tip if you want a perfect circle around that tree tie a string around the trunk of the tree loosely tie the string to your Spade shovel pull it and do a complete circle around that tree and you'll have a perfect circle every time.
Hello everyone, I'm a Volcano Edger. I'm here to learn how to do it, thank you. I've learned how to finally do it right after 55 years, a twenty something taught a great lesson! Thanks bud!
A nicely done video and very informative. I ordered the Garden Weasel and a BIG thank you for mentioning this tool. I’ve subscribed and can’t wait for more informative videos.
A suggestion - look up tree rings. These can be bought in vinyl, powder coated steel or aluminum. These are much better at creating a crisp edge, that holds up for decades, and the edge doesn't need to be maintained with an edger. I use them for all my trees and have 3-4" of mulch inside the ring. Mowing around the ring is easier too, if you keep the top of the ring at grade level or maybe 1/2" higher than grade.
Wow!!! Super impressed!!! I guess I’m not the only one who knows how to do mulch around a tree. Holy shit!!!! Mulch volcanoes everywhere I look. Bad for tree. No mulch should touch the tree. Ever!!!!!
I dropped the weed tool for an ordinary small flat pry bar. Gives you something to push against(fulcrum) when you are prying up a weed. On stubborn weeds with foot deep tap roots I use a full size pry bar. Makes quick work of um. If I kick up dirt I just consider that aeration.
Ok, got all that. But, how do you determine how big to make the circle? Is there a system? Does it depend on how big the tree truck is? I'd like to know before I do this. Thanks!
*Flat mulching is where it's at, good job.* Looks like your Maple tree already has some problems. Such as, wherever there are trunk flat spots or vertical valleys. Most likely some trunk girdling going on below grade. Trunk should be perfectly round ideally, if came with good root system. Trunk suckers, or adventitious sprouts like you have, also point to problems. 99% of Trees grown in Nurseries over past 5-55 years have been an increasingly hot mess. Having built in obsolescence service lives. And many come with root flares already too deep in rootball, and must be excavated in order to install rootflare at grade. If your Blaze/Marmo suffers from bark splits or tissue voids, it may not have been caused by winter sun scald. But caused by suffocation of lower trunk if buried. Suggest looking up "Structural tree pruning", something required over its first 15 years. It was pruned for one main trunk leader in nursery, and should continue to be for rest of its "Formative years". So head back, subordinate, or totally remove any co-dominant stems. Or any large branches growing upward toward sky. More sideways you keep lateral branches, slower they will grow. This way you can keep lower branches as slow growing temporaries to help shade trunk and give it more girth. I suggest doing a "Root flare excavation" after viewing this video, which will show you what a root flare looks like, and why important that it not be covered. You will see extreme over mulching examples, but SGR's or Stem Girdling Roots can be produced in only two inches of raised soil grade or decomposing mulch. This old house "How to properly mulch around a tree" video ua-cam.com/video/fI12XNNqldA/v-deo.html Notice how roots growing just at grade? They don't want to grow deeper, because soil below sucks. Probably from compaction which limits oxygen intake below grade. Like you said, trunk breaths, and so does trees feeder roots just below grade. They could have grown high, because there had originally been sod over the grade suffocating tree roots. Planting tree deeper does not avoid surface root problem as roots seek their own comfortable grade. As tree matures, there won't be many feeder roots near trunk perimeter. So mulching close around older trees is just more for visual aspect than trees health. It's good that at least all those big roots are growing outbound away from tree. Get rid of any roots paralleling tree within some five feet of trunk, as expanding root flare will get that wide in 50 years. Shape of rootflares have been evolved by trees to manage against girdling roots. And why trees with taperless trunks looking like poles entering ground, so easily suffer from stem girdling. It's great how you cautioned gardeners about if one digs too deep to edge between grass and mulch. You could sever younger tree roots that act like guidewires holding up tree. Hope I could pass along some interesting facts I have learned over the years as an Arborist...Enjoy!
This is great information. You would think the tree farms would know how to plant trees. They plant them from seed too deep, and they're doomed from the start. They are sold and replanted even deeper, and then get covered in way too much mulch. The beautiful and important root flare is forever buried in dirt and mulch🤧
Totally believe you, but why then do all the professional and city crews do it? They just had trees planted along the sidewalks every 30 feet in the HOA and they all have volcanoes. Should I be the only brave one to take ours down? Great channel keep it up!
Agreed, the number one cause of tree death caused by crown rot. All the big companies and cowboys do it around here. Drives me up the wall to see so many companies calling themselves professionals killing ornamental trees.
I'm so glad this is being talked about. I live in a heavily wooded and lake community and during the wind storms the first trees to fall are the ones that have mulch going up 2'min up the trunk. Its not just a waste of mulch it's also dangerous. Don't know how to get the word out in masses that we are killing our trees. Thanks for the vid.
Hi Ryan, I live in NZ and have just purchased a new house there are some plants but my main prob is the lawn, its scrappy and barren in places, any advice would be welcome, and really nice video, very professional and easy to follow, I have a native tree in the small front lawn and three small fruit trees planted in the back lawn so this video has been very useful, many thanks.
This looks great, for sure... for the time being. What happens if we have exposed tree roots, going at least 10 feet from the tree - all around it; AND what happens when we need to mow or trim the grass around that mulched area? Stupid, ugly mulch spreads flies everywhere, making it very difficult to mow the surrounding areas...
I always like to use Preen to prevent weed growth before I put down the mulch. I also find I don’t need to have the mulch as thick to keep out the weeds.
Never mulch up against tree, it can cause rot in the bark. Also u could put down something like preen or another pre emurgent to help prevent weeds when you put down mulch thin
I have watched a couple of your videos and I really like your style and find your video info to be very helpful and throughout. Keep up the great work. You are a fine, patient and responsible being... I wish my president could show at least half of your qualities (sorry to bring politics into this).
I use the string tip mostly around trees that don't have a circle yet, great trick for beginners too. Also they have a tool out called a scuffle hoe and it works great for weeding out large beds!!!
I've always wanted to remove the black edging and trench per your video, how do you approach trimming along the edge without getting grass clippings on the mulch?
The video I've been waiting for. Indefinitely need to get a cutting tool to help me do sharper cuts. Question: when you mow around the tree, do you have issues with grass clippings getting blown on to the new mulch? Even when I bag, I get some clippings on top of the mulch and with a black top layer, it's unsightly.
I try to close my chute if I'm going to be mowing at the mulch but yes it happens that inevitably some grass gets in there. The grass will dry out and decompose fairly quickly as long as you're not putting huge amounts of clippings in there.
When you are done just use a blower on the lightest trigger you can have. Blow the mulch bed out. The mulch stays and the grass thats in it gets mixed up and youll barely see it
Brady Aldrich - Using a bagger mower helps, but so does the proper rotation around the tree/mulched area. You want to keep the exhaust chute / bagger pointed away from the mulched area.
is it worth it to use weed fabric around the tree and covering that with mulch? What about using a plastic garden edger? Is this a matter of preference or are these things bad for my tree
My daughter always asks me why I stripe my grass and edge the walks and driveways and why I'm sooooo particular about my yard. She says nobody cares. Well...apparently they do. Glad to see there are a lot of others like me. I enjoy your videos man. Keep up the good work.
Even if we are the minority of people who care, I'll gladly be in that group. :)
Great daughter there.
I didn't give a shit about yards either and didn't get why my mom was so into it. But now that I just bought my own house, well, I'm watching videos like this...
Tell your daughter,that all your neighbors take notice.I have received many compliments on my lawn and yard.One person said it looked like the Augusta National Golf Course.
A lot of others oblivious to the arboricultural rule to never raise the grade around base of tree, end up continually tossing soil back toward trunk everytime they recut surrounding edge.
So it's cool that you teach your daughter how one must remove some of the old mulch layer before putting down a new layer.
Step 1. Clean area
Step 2. FF to 4:45
Your welcome
Too drawn out for me, but I still appreciate the time he took to make/upload/share
Quick tip if you want a perfect circle around that tree tie a string around the trunk of the tree loosely tie the string to your Spade shovel pull it and do a complete circle around that tree and you'll have a perfect circle every time.
Tie the string to a can of turf paint.
I li that band
like
Thanks man that's a great idea 👍
Great idea if you want a circle area...but who said that should be always a circle. I will go for a square...easier to create it and to maintain it.
Thank you for telling folks not to volcano mulch a tree. I see this done a lot, even by "professional" landscapes.
Lady Karen yea honestly. I was wondering why it’s so high lol. good thing I watched this before hiring them.
Hello everyone, I'm a Volcano Edger. I'm here to learn how to do it, thank you. I've learned how to finally do it right after 55 years, a twenty something taught a great lesson! Thanks bud!
A nicely done video and very informative. I ordered the Garden Weasel and a BIG thank you for mentioning this tool. I’ve subscribed and can’t wait for more informative videos.
so much nicer. I have bricks around my tree and they are coming out! Yours looks soooo much better. Thank you great video
Thank you. Just got HOA notice to make the edge right and remove weeds. Much appreciated for the tips.
A suggestion - look up tree rings. These can be bought in vinyl, powder coated steel or aluminum. These are much better at creating a crisp edge, that holds up for decades, and the edge doesn't need to be maintained with an edger. I use them for all my trees and have 3-4" of mulch inside the ring. Mowing around the ring is easier too, if you keep the top of the ring at grade level or maybe 1/2" higher than grade.
Shashank Mittal And also, the ring diameter doesn’t grow year over year and expand to eat your yard.
where do you get them and how do they look
That metal or aluminum edge looks like $!(-)!T
EXACTLY the right way to do it. Too many folks put huge amounts of mulch on a tree and do more harm than good. Great vid.
Thanks!
I REALLY LIKE YOUR VIDEOS. YOU DONT RAMBLE ON WITH UNNECESSARY INFO. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
This is the best video I've seen on mulching trees. New sub.
Thank you. Good explanation and very helpful.
Wow!!! Super impressed!!! I guess I’m not the only one who knows how to do mulch around a tree. Holy shit!!!! Mulch volcanoes everywhere I look. Bad for tree. No mulch should touch the tree. Ever!!!!!
thanks for this video
No problem!
I didnt watch any more of this video than how long it took to type this comment. The tree ring you have on that tree is immaculate. That is all
I dropped the weed tool for an ordinary small flat pry bar. Gives you something to push against(fulcrum) when you are prying up a weed. On stubborn weeds with foot deep tap roots I use a full size pry bar. Makes quick work of um. If I kick up dirt I just consider that aeration.
I use the same process. Works great
Love those clean lines!
Great video and well documented.
Ok, got all that. But, how do you determine how big to make the circle? Is there a system? Does it depend on how big the tree truck is? I'd like to know before I do this. Thanks!
Love the video's keep them coming
*Flat mulching is where it's at, good job.* Looks like your Maple tree already has some problems. Such as, wherever there are trunk flat spots or vertical valleys. Most likely some trunk girdling going on below grade. Trunk should be perfectly round ideally, if came with good root system.
Trunk suckers, or adventitious sprouts like you have, also point to problems. 99% of Trees grown in Nurseries over past 5-55 years have been an increasingly hot mess. Having built in obsolescence service lives. And many come with root flares already too deep in rootball, and must be excavated in order to install rootflare at grade.
If your Blaze/Marmo suffers from bark splits or tissue voids, it may not have been caused by winter sun scald. But caused by suffocation of lower trunk if buried. Suggest looking up "Structural tree pruning", something required over its first 15 years. It was pruned for one main trunk leader in nursery, and should continue to be for rest of its "Formative years". So head back, subordinate, or totally remove any co-dominant stems. Or any large branches growing upward toward sky. More sideways you keep lateral branches, slower they will grow. This way you can keep lower branches as slow growing temporaries to help shade trunk and give it more girth.
I suggest doing a "Root flare excavation" after viewing this video, which will show you what a root flare looks like, and why important that it not be covered. You will see extreme over mulching examples, but SGR's or Stem Girdling Roots can be produced in only two inches of raised soil grade or decomposing mulch. This old house "How to properly mulch around a tree" video ua-cam.com/video/fI12XNNqldA/v-deo.html
Notice how roots growing just at grade? They don't want to grow deeper, because soil below sucks. Probably from compaction which limits oxygen intake below grade. Like you said, trunk breaths, and so does trees feeder roots just below grade. They could have grown high, because there had originally been sod over the grade suffocating tree roots.
Planting tree deeper does not avoid surface root problem as roots seek their own comfortable grade. As tree matures, there won't be many feeder roots near trunk perimeter. So mulching close around older trees is just more for visual aspect than trees health.
It's good that at least all those big roots are growing outbound away from tree. Get rid of any roots paralleling tree within some five feet of trunk, as expanding root flare will get that wide in 50 years. Shape of rootflares have been evolved by trees to manage against girdling roots. And why trees with taperless trunks looking like poles entering ground, so easily suffer from stem girdling.
It's great how you cautioned gardeners about if one digs too deep to edge between grass and mulch. You could sever younger tree roots that act like guidewires holding up tree. Hope I could pass along some interesting facts I have learned over the years as an Arborist...Enjoy!
CONCERTMANchicago Good Arborist advice. ISA and KAA....
This is great information. You would think the tree farms would know how to plant trees. They plant them from seed too deep, and they're doomed from the start. They are sold and replanted even deeper, and then get covered in way too much mulch. The beautiful and important root flare is forever buried in dirt and mulch🤧
Thanks for the information. My perspective just took a 360°. Now I need to do more research.
Your technical is wonderful. Thanks so much for sharing
Very smart. Hand pulling and thanks for NOT recommending toxic carcinogenic weedkiller. Thank you!
What determines how big the circle is under the tree? Is it a preference, or is the size?
Looks great! Glad to see you didn’t do the mulch volcano that so many people do.
Nope I've seen first hand how bad that can be for the root system.
Totally believe you, but why then do all the professional and city crews do it? They just had trees planted along the sidewalks every 30 feet in the HOA and they all have volcanoes. Should I be the only brave one to take ours down? Great channel keep it up!
Tell the HOA they are wasting money on mulch and this practice could lead to dead and deformed trees.
Agreed, the number one cause of tree death caused by crown rot. All the big companies and cowboys do it around here. Drives me up the wall to see so many companies calling themselves professionals killing ornamental trees.
I'm so glad this is being talked about. I live in a heavily wooded and lake community and during the wind storms the first trees to fall are the ones that have mulch going up 2'min up the trunk. Its not just a waste of mulch it's also dangerous. Don't know how to get the word out in masses that we are killing our trees. Thanks for the vid.
Aren't we gonna talk about that perfect circle around that tree! 👌 Nicely done!
Beautiful
Did I miss the link for the edging tool you used in the video? Please share this. Good job with the materials & process Ryan.
Night and day difference. Gorgeous!
It really does make a huge difference in the look!
Great video
Good to see someone young get into their job.
Always edge early in the spring after a good rain, makes it much easier especially if you have alot of clay. Good vid
Excellent video. Very detailed, clear step by step presentation
Is that a Hitachi trimmer @8:12
Yep
A curved shaft trimmer?!?
Thank you.
Hi Ryan, I live in NZ and have just purchased a new house there are some plants but my main prob is the lawn, its scrappy and barren in places, any advice would be welcome, and really nice video, very professional and easy to follow, I have a native tree in the small front lawn and three small fruit trees planted in the back lawn so this video has been very useful, many thanks.
Hi, do you recommend using weed fabric?
Nice. Would you recommend placing a couple of layers of newspaper under the mulch to assist with weed prevention?
Great help, I like you are to the point with just the information needed. Thank you
That looks spectacular! Perfect circle
This looks great, for sure... for the time being. What happens if we have exposed tree roots, going at least 10 feet from the tree - all around it; AND what happens when we need to mow or trim the grass around that mulched area? Stupid, ugly mulch spreads flies everywhere, making it very difficult to mow the surrounding areas...
Very professional. Nice job.
Thanks!
for those weeds I recommend using a "hori hori" garden knife. serrated on one edge, easy to use and cuts all weeds.
Johnny the best weeding tool on the market for professionals, in my opinion.
Can you use stone around a tree instead of mulch or will that interfere with the moisture?
good work , use better triple shred mulch ?
awesome info mate ! Thank you !
I always like to use Preen to prevent weed growth before I put down the mulch. I also find I don’t need to have the mulch as thick to keep out the weeds.
I believe Preen has glyphosate in it. You should look that chemical up.
Great landscaper means your a great manscaper nice work
Great. What is the distance from the tree trunk to the edge of grass edging for tree of this size?
Never mulch up against tree, it can cause rot in the bark. Also u could put down something like preen or another pre emurgent to help prevent weeds when you put down mulch thin
I have watched a couple of your videos and I really like your style and find your video info to be very helpful and throughout.
Keep up the great work. You are a fine, patient and responsible being... I wish my president could show at least half of your qualities (sorry to bring politics into this).
I appreciate that. Thanks for watching!
Thumbs up for throwing some shade onTrump. I say never miss an opportunity to disparage the jerk
Nice video! So what about placing a black cover to stop the weeds around the tree. Is that a good idea? Thanks
Lawn looks good! Nice n healthy no weeds from what I can c
Nice clean edging, like a pitching mound.
You're right! I like the look.
Yeah... Like a YANKEES pitching mound! Nice job Ryan.
Simple and to the point thanks for the tips 🙏🏽
Thanks
Looks great ! Great video
Thanks!
That edging tool was AWESOME!!!
Yeah it is a handy little tool to have.
I have a suspicion that you may have the edging tool facing the wrong direction.
Proper drainage, most important reason to maintain the “ring” around a tree. Roots of tree expand well beyond the canopy.
Can I plant some tulip bulbs then put mulch? Thanks.
What are the gloves for?
Nice edge. I reserve edges for beds and prefer trees in the lawn to have grass up to the trunk. Looks natural.
gale212 grass up to the trunk is problematic for multiple reasons.
R Nyssa ...I've never had a problem with grass up to trees.
gale 212...I agree.
Great job. Amazing yard! Why didn't you use a fabric under the mulch?
Good video, you don't want to volcano mulch, that can lead to girdling root and slowly over time damage or even kill the tree.
Looking good!
Thanks!
tie a string to the edger and to the tree and make a perfect circle every time
I use the string tip mostly around trees that don't have a circle yet, great trick for beginners too. Also they have a tool out called a scuffle hoe and it works great for weeding out large beds!!!
I have a tree thats like this so can i plant a full flower bed in this
What tree do you recommend for the front yard that is not too big?
Except you didn't cut the sucker growing next to the tree
Eric Campbell yeah.... i kept watching for that sucker shoot to be removed too. Part of tree maintenance. I “think” by the very end he removed it.
Except it’s not a sucker, it’s an epicormic shoot..
I bet that suckers still there on that tree lmfao
Glad some else seen that and that mulch is trash
Thank you for these tips!
Thank you. Beautiful simplicity.
Why people are nasty . he making a good job. Like or not he is doing nice job.
How do you feel about the rubber "mulch" mats?
I've always wanted to remove the black edging and trench per your video, how do you approach trimming along the edge without getting grass clippings on the mulch?
Some will get on the mulch but it usually breaks down fairly quickly...it all depends on what you can deal with or how you want it to look I suppose.
Is this a 3-year project?
would it be ok to put a layer of compost/manure down before topping with mulch????
Looks great...now it's MILLER TIME
Excellently done.
How would you handle low grade soil and exposed roots? I can’t get a clean edge without running into roots! 😒
Yea, all of my trees seem to have a hill running up to them
Should you put down weed guard fabric before the mulch?
In the past I've used a nice layer of newspaper and that works well
Cool. Thanks.
Thanks for the explanation! 5 years later and it’s only getting more views
What is the brand name of your edging tool?
Great video. Can you do this same process with a gas powered edger (you use along walkways) versus the manual one?
On any established tree I wouldn't because you will definitely hit tree roots
@@ryanknorrlawncare some root damage is easy for the tree to recover from. I dont think using a gas powered tool would come out clean however.
The video I've been waiting for. Indefinitely need to get a cutting tool to help me do sharper cuts.
Question: when you mow around the tree, do you have issues with grass clippings getting blown on to the new mulch? Even when I bag, I get some clippings on top of the mulch and with a black top layer, it's unsightly.
I try to close my chute if I'm going to be mowing at the mulch but yes it happens that inevitably some grass gets in there. The grass will dry out and decompose fairly quickly as long as you're not putting huge amounts of clippings in there.
ryanknorr thanks for that.
When you are done just use a blower on the lightest trigger you can have. Blow the mulch bed out. The mulch stays and the grass thats in it gets mixed up and youll barely see it
Brady Aldrich - Using a bagger mower helps, but so does the proper rotation around the tree/mulched area. You want to keep the exhaust chute / bagger pointed away from the mulched area.
What is the name and model of that edge tool. Nice !!!
There should be a link to it in the description. Thanks!
@7:10 my OCD is kicking in, why didn't you remove that little sapling from the base of the tree?!?!? ahhhhh! OCD engaged!
:)
Great tips!
Thanks!
Looks really nice.... but why didn’t you remove the little sucker on the “back” side of the tree?!
is it worth it to use weed fabric around the tree and covering that with mulch? What about using a plastic garden edger? Is this a matter of preference or are these things bad for my tree
Great detail
I did a live edge but after a couple rains it pushes all the dirt into flower bed so was wondering how u keep it from happening.
What kind of tree is that?
Did you use the scissors to get more of a precise edge?
TIA
Thanks for your videos and the editing is great!
Maple tree and you can use a scissors if you want
Really nice job , Ryan
How do you get the circle not to look wonky?
Thank you for this
Thanks for this! ✔️ ✔️ ✔️
Great advice 👍🏾
The grass has roots that will grow into the new mulch area, make sure that you pull out the new grass that grows inside the circle not just the weeds.