The rustic look works well for this older styled home and.

May 10, A mountain of mulch, piled high against the tree trunk, does not kill a tree immediately but results in a slow death.

Over-mulching is a waste of mulch and money. It is a leading cause of death of cherry trees, ash, birch, linden, spruce, and many other landscape plants.

Over-mulching can kill trees and shrubs by oxygen starvation. Mulch the entire length of the line of the spruces - it doesn't matter if they are not that close to each other. A long, continuous bed of mulch will be visually more appealing than round, individual 'tree circles'. And it will keep the weeds and other undesirables down in any open areas between the trees. Sep 25, The best mulch for trees is organic wood chips.

There are a number of different wood chip products which all accomplish the desired outcome of improved tree growth. Select which type of mulch fits your budget and desired appearance. Raked leaves are just as effective as the trendiest designer dyed mulch on the market.

Fine textured mulch gets compacted and can starve your tree's roots of oxygen.

Spread mulch under trees, shrubs, and throughout planting beds to a recommended depth of 3 to 4 inches for medium- to coarse-textured materials. Pull mulch away from the bases of tree and shrub trunks, creating a donut-hole (image on left). Do not pile it up against the trunk (“volcano mulching”). Sep 21, Another hardy ground cover to plant under the spruce tree is spreading wintergreen, also called teaberry. Teaberry is also an evergreen ground cover that has a creeping mat form.

It prefers light to moderate shade--ideal nestled under a spruce tree. Choose a medium to coarse mulch material, such as wood or bark chips, wood shavings, pine needles, hedge trimmings, partially finished coarse compost.