If you've been walking in the Arboretum recently, you may have noticed pieces of upside-down carpet, about 3 feet square, around some of the young trees. This is an experiment we've been running in the last year or two, and is proving to be successful in helping newly planted trees get established. The carpet mulches not only reduce water evaporation from around the tree, but also prevent weeds from competing for sunlight, as well as for water and nutrients. The result is higher survival rates. We like that.
Trimming around trees planted in 2009
Planting and mulching 2010
2010 ... ready for rain, weeds, rodents
