The Village of Oak Park | 123 Madison St.  Oak Park, IL 60302 | village@oak-park.us

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Protect your trees — don’t mound the mulch

Residents who pile mulch or build planters around the base of their parkway trees may be setting the stage for their slow death from root strangulation, rot and insect infestation.

The base of a tree, known as its root flare, needs to be exposed to ensure healthy growth. The too-common practice of piling mulch around the base of a tree in a volcano-like configuration can promote irregular root growth and bark rot, which is a sure way to attract potentially harmful insects.

Mulching with wood chips up to four inches deep is beneficial to trees, but only if a space of two-to-three inches is created so that the chips don’t touch the bark. Think of mulching as creating a donut around the tree, rather than a volcano.

Planters that create raised beds covering the root flare of a tree are very harmful as well.

Call 708.358.5700 or email publicworks@oak-park.us for more information.