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Recycled Rubber Tree Ring/Mat #879142

Asked July 28, 2024, 5:46 PM EDT

Are recycled rubbet tree "rings" or mats (48" diam.) a good idea around young trees, or are the trees better off simply with mulch? The mats are porous.

Hennepin County Minnesota

Expert Response

Thank you for writing.
Please do not use this product.  It will raise the soil temperature higher than what the superficial roots and normal soil bacteria are used to. 
Surround the tree with 4-6 inches of mulch (pine bark chips are fine) but keep the mulch at least 6 inches away from the tree bark.
This is an oak and I cannot see the tree entering the ground.
When did was it planted?  Who planted it? Send me a picture of the bottom foot of the tree after the rubber ring is gone.
I planted it in 2020; it looked like this:  

image  

….and photo from today after removing rubber tree ring:  


image


On Jul 28, 2024, at 5:36 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

The Question Asker Replied July 29, 2024, 5:39 PM EDT
How’s this? (6.4 meg)


image

On Jul 29, 2024, at 4:43 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

The Question Asker Replied July 29, 2024, 6:47 PM EDT

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