Mulching around the trunk is fine in the desert?

[Palmfarmer]

Just wondering..

I heard someone say one could mulch with wood chips and let them “touch” the trunk in dry climates without worries of any rot.

I know the recommended thing is to spread the mulch away from the trunk but I am thinking is this practice really necessary in desert climates?   

[Jeff zone 8 N.C.]

If you water it would wet the chips. I wonder if that would be a desirable place for insects to breed?

[James B]

I’ve never had an issue here. Can’t think of a single palm I had that came down with rot due to mulch here 50 miles inland.

[Palmfarmer]

8 minutes ago, Jeff zone 8 N.C. said:

If you water it would wet the chips. I wonder if that would be a desirable place for insects to breed?

Yes, but again the chips dry out vert fast afterwards 

[Silas_Sancona]

Wouldn't do it myself.  Then again, only use stone or leaf cover as a " Mulch ".  Wood chips are just unattractive, unless you live in a forest..

As for insects?  they find homes anywhere / under anything you'd lay down over open soil., regardless of how quickly or slowly the sky facing side of the " mulch " layer laid down may dry out between being moistened. .. 

Bugs help start the break down process of organics as they accumulate on the surface of the soil. W/ out the work they do,  plant roots won't be able to access what nutrients are locked up in the " raw ", un- decomposed leaves, sticks / other shed plant debris.

Can't have happy / healthy plants w/ out da' bugs'. 

 

[Palmfarmer]

1 hour ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Wouldn't do it myself.  Then again, only use stone or leaf cover as a " Mulch ".  Wood chips are just unattractive, unless you live in a forest..

As for insects?  they find homes anywhere / under anything you'd lay down over open soil., regardless of how quickly or slowly the sky facing side of the " mulch " layer laid down may dry out between being moistened. .. 

Bugs help start the break down process of organics as they accumulate on the surface of the soil. W/ out the work they do,  plant roots won't be able to access what nutrients are locked up in the " raw ", un- decomposed leaves, sticks / other shed plant debris.

Can't have happy / healthy plants w/ out da' bugs'. 

 

Maybe I should switch to stone. So stone is completely safe to mulch a few inches up the trunk on most specimens? Even rocks that absorb moisture like Pumice? I thought about using pumice around my Royal to make it look better. 

[Silas_Sancona]

6 minutes ago, Palmfarmer said:

Maybe I should switch to stone. So stone is completely safe to mulch a few inches up the trunk on most specimens? Even rocks that absorb moisture like Pumice? I thought about using pumice around my Royal to make it look better. 

Take a little google street view tour around any neighborhood around Phoenix / rest of the Valley ..and / or Tucson and you'll see  Gravel " mulch " is what you'll see laid down in 99% of yards here that haven't yet yanked grass..  Not a single palm planted in any of those yards / commercial landscapes seems bothered by being surrounded by a few inches of gravel.

Same w/ any arid- adapted palms in habitat, which often grow among much larger rocks / boulders than anyone would be able to put in their yards.



Not sure i'd use Pumice for such an application since i'm sure it would be quite expensive to purchase on a scale to apply a 3-5" deep layer over an area larger than say 40 Sq ft.  Pumice is also light enough that it could wash away if laid down on any kind of slope. Lava rock will be denser / heavier ..so it would be less likely to wash away.

A light colored Granite, -if available there, that is approx 1/4" to 1/2" in size is a great pumice look alike.. Is the most common gravel " mulch " color used here.

As mentioned in the past, keep in mind that it  ( ..and every type of stone really ) will also -slowly- release nutrients into the soil below it as well since even stone decomposes, over time. 

The big thing regarding using stone over organic mulch is the clean look / ease of maintenance ( unwanted weedy plants are very easy to keep under control / pull out ) ...You might " top off " gravel once every 8-14 years, where as wood mulch might have to be replaced yearly / bi- yearly.. 

 

[Palmfarmer]

I got some black lava rock I will see how it turns out tomorrow. Do you think it is fine to lay down a layer of cardboard and or newspapers before laying down the mulch to offset potential weeds? Or could it end up low in oxygen? 

[sonoranfans]

On 3/5/2024 at 10:14 PM, Palmfarmer said:

Maybe I should switch to stone. So stone is completely safe to mulch a few inches up the trunk on most specimens? Even rocks that absorb moisture like Pumice? I thought about using pumice around my Royal to make it look better. 

you are high altitude a bit cool if I recall.  I would put down the 3/4 inch granite gravel but if you want warmer roots you could use a darker color like brown.  in arizona the light colors make more sense as heat can be excessive.  

[Palmfarmer]

1 hour ago, sonoranfans said:

you are high altitude a bit cool if I recall.  I would put down the 3/4 inch granite gravel but if you want warmer roots you could use a darker color like brown.  in arizona the light colors make more sense as heat can be excessive.  

I got black lava rock I will see how it will look. Not really cold, only cold nights. In the peak of summer it is almost pinned at 32/15 Celsius. Winter is 25/1 and the others are in between of course. The UV is very strong here due to the high elevation and being fairly far south. Some springs my livestona it fronds burn of completely from the harsh sunlight despite being in part shade. Even the Robustas gets some small spots on them during spring. 

[jwitt]

@palmfarmer

More important is the mass(density) of the rock as opposed to color if using to warm. 

Especially in higher elevation.

In my neighborhood, red lava rock will retain snow whereas light granite will melt it.  

Believe it or not 

[Palmfarmer]

On 3/7/2024 at 11:48 PM, jwitt said:

@palmfarmer

More important is the mass(density) of the rock as opposed to color if using to warm. 

Especially in higher elevation.

In my neighborhood, red lava rock will retain snow whereas light granite will melt it.  

Believe it or not 

I see. I was going to do this for looks foremost. If it can help keep the soil warmer so the palm has a longer growth season that would be cool.