Botanic Garden >> Gardening > >> Garden Articles >> Landscaping

Stone Mulch Harms Trees: Heat Stress and Stunted Growth

Norm Mittleider, owner of The Art of Pruning (770-407-1511), read my comments on stone mulch.

He comments: "You couldn't have said it better. I've seen bad effects of stone mulch.

Case in point: poor Japanese maple in photo below. Monitored seven years. Result: very stressed tree with stunted growth. Summer heat effect intensified with DARK stones."

Landscaping: Stone Mulch vs. Organic Mulch: What's Best for Your Condo Beds?; Using Chipped Ash Wood as Mulch: Safety and Pest Concerns; Cedar Trees and Hardwood Decline: Separating Myth from Reality; Ficus Tree Root Damage: Prevention and Management Strategies; Fruit Tree Care: Pruning for Health, Structure, and Abundant Harvests; Things to Learn About Mulching for Trees; Mistletoe: The Tree Thief and Its Impact on Tree Health; Leaves as Mulch? Better: Plant a Shade Garden Instead; Rubber Mulch: Stable but Doesn't Feed Soil; Best Trees for Bees: A Guide to Pollinator-Friendly Species

Garden Articles

Best Fertilizer Method for Trees and Shrubs: Granular Broadcast

Winter Mulching for Banana Plants: Best Materials and Methods

Privacy Hedges for Southern California: Replacing Invasive Privet

Pine Mulch Acidity Myth and Holly Pollination Facts

Keep Your Christmas Tree Fresh All Season: Water, Cuts & Care

Ornamental Trees for Landscaping: Selection & Design Guide

Small Trees for Landscaping: Perfect Picks for Limited Spaces

Plants

Best Mulch for Rose Gardens – Cocoa, Coffee, Cornmeal, Pine Straw

Year-Round Mulching for Roses: Benefits Outweigh Risks

Using Fresh Wood Chips as Mulch: Benefits, Risks, and Best Practices

Diagnosing Leaf Curl on Newly Planted Ash Trees

Birds Stealing Mulch: Nest Building or Foraging? How to Coexist

Caring for Fruit Trees: A Seasonal Guide to Healthy Harvests

Six Trees to Plant This Fall for Years of Beauty