Good morning!! I have about a 1/2 acre clearing with about 35 apple trees. Trees are all caged with a 6-7 foot cages. Inside the cage i mulch around the tree. Issue I'm having is a tremendous amount of weeds both inside and outside the cages. What/how do you suggest I kill the weeds without harming the trees, roundup? barrier?. Would landscape fabric in the cages under the mulch help? is it worth the added expense? Thanks for any advice.
How deep did you mulch? I mulched around my apples/pears this year but did so about 3-5 inches deep and even then I'm getting weeds inside a little bit but I know it is drastically less than one would without the mulch. IF the weeds are seriously bugging you just carry a sprayer and like a thick poster board to put along the tree and spray around it as to get the weeds but not hit the tree...moisture retention is the biggest benefit of the mulch and then insulation as well in the winter...with weed suppression to me being the last beneficial thing.
Thanks, yes I did the same 3-5" all around. I was concerned with the weeds taking up any moisture and/or nutrients that I would want the trees to get instead.
Its nature perfection just isn't going to happen...how far around the tree did you mulch? I probably went a little crazy and average 2 to 3 feet out from the tree itself (didn't mulch right against bark as that can have problems form with young trees). The spot spraying idea I shared wouldn't take too long and honestly anything thing light enough and not too wide to fit inside fencing works as a spray guard...posterboard...cardboard...anything really.
Make spray on weed killer with vinegar, Epsom salt and a little dish soap! Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk
