Should Fruit Trees Have Grass Around Their Trunks?
Planting grass right up to the trunks of fruit trees is generally not advisable for several reasons. This practice can lead to a number of detrimental effects, including competition for nutrients and water, soil compaction, and increased pest and disease issues. Instead, maintaining a clear zone around the trunk using mulch or appropriate ground cover is a much better practice.
Competition for Nutrients and Water
Grass has an intense need for both nutrients and moisture, which are the same resources that fruit trees rely on for optimal growth and fruit production. By competing for these essential elements, grass can hinder the growth and yield of your fruit trees.
Soil Compaction
Grass, especially when the area is frequently walked on, can contribute to soil compaction. Compacted soil can restrict root growth and reduce water infiltration, further harming the health of your fruit trees.
Pest and Disease Issues
Grass can harbor pests and diseases that may affect fruit trees. Keeping a clear area around the trunk can help reduce the risk of disease transmission.
Mulching Benefits
Instead of grass, consider using mulch around the base of the tree. Mulch helps retain moisture, suppresses weeds, and improves soil health as it breaks down. A well-chosen mulch can significantly enhance the growth and health of your fruit trees.
Air Circulation and Bark Protection
Leaving space around the trunk allows for better air circulation, which can reduce the likelihood of fungal infections and other issues. Additionally, it protects the bark from damage that can occur due to lawn care activities such as using weed-whackers or mowers. Using materials like wood chips can further enhance this protection and provide the necessary nutrients.
The Proper Use of Mulch
A good practice is to maintain a clear zone about 2-3 feet around the trunk of fruit trees using mulch or ground cover plants that are less competitive than grass. Avoid using wood mulch directly against the tree trunk to prevent girdling, which can kill the tree by cutting off the flow of nutrients and water.
Organic Ground Covers in Orchards
In commercially grown orchards, green leafy vegetables such as kale, radishes, and mustard are used in many cases. These provide ground cover and companion nutrients, which can support the health of young saplings. Even in smaller gardens, using organic mulch made from pruned branches of the same tree can be beneficial due to the specific nutrients it provides.
The Importance of Tree Collars
Most experts recommend a collar of mulch around a tree, not grass. Whether to incorporate this into a larger garden bed or stick to a simple 2-4-foot-radius ring around the base of the trunk is a personal choice. However, it's crucial to avoid using weed-whackers or lawnmowers against the tree trunk, as this can damage the bark and cambium layer, creating open wounds that can lead to decay and even death of the tree.
Protecting Your Trees
The simplest and most pressing reason you shouldn't let grass grow up to a tree trunk is that lawn care activities can kill your tree. Trimmers and lawnmowers can damage the bark and cambium layer, creating open wounds for decay. Unfortunately, despite the clear visible damage, it is a top cause of tree death.
Sustaining Young Trees
Young trees don't want to compete with grass. Tree root systems extend outward from the base of the tree in the top 8 inches of soil, the same zone where grass roots grow. Grass roots are aggressive and very thirsty, reducing the coverage of tree roots. A newly-planted tree begins with a stunted root system and needs all the water and nutrients it can get from this area. Removing grass in the zone where the roots will grow encourages the roots to venture out and ensures they get the support they need.
Benefits of Mulch Around Trees
Mulch provides a whole bunch of benefits that grass cannot. It creates a protective layer that keeps moisture in the soil, stops the sun from heating the soil, and encourages the growth of beneficial fungi. Mulch releases nutrients gradually as it decays, providing a sustainable and healthy environment for your fruit trees.
Choosing the Right Mulch
The best mulch for fruit trees comes from wood chips with a medium coarseness. Grass cuttings and straw can provide some benefit but need to be replaced every couple of months and are not as beneficial as wood. Avoid using stones or rubber chips as they do not provide the same benefits as organic mulch. An ideal bed of mulch will be about 4 inches deep, starting 2-3 inches from the base of the tree, and extending out at least 2 feet in each direction for a new tree, ideally extending to the drip zone.
A mulched tree will have improved survivability and perform noticeably better. Even for the small-scale harvest you expect from your home fruit tree, good mulch is a game-changer.
Good luck with your fruit tree!