Mulch Frequently Asked Questions | Kramer Tree Specialists, Inc.

Frequently Asked Questions
About Mulch Products

Kramer Tree Specialists made a commitment both personally and financially years ago to re-cycle our wood products due to the concerns regarding landfills. We felt that by producing a mulch product that was esthetically pleasing and at an affordable cost, what better way to continue the cycle of keeping trees healthy and encourage people to properly mulch their trees.

Over the years, many questions have arisen regarding mulch products and production. The two most common are:

1. Does your mulch have bugs and/or diseases? The answer is no. If you have ever witnessed the processing of limbs/chips through a recycler, (not a brush chipper) you would see that no insect could survive the process. Further, insects need a host, which has now been destroyed. In reference to diseased trees, once the limbs/chips have been processed through the recycler the mulch products are in piles and due to the pressure and decomposition process the temperatures can reach up to 180 degrees. Therefore, no insect or disease could “survive” or be transmitted with that level of heat and pressure.

Mulch, whether purchased in bulk or in bags is all processed in the same manner, as long as it was produced with a recycle machine.

By purchasing a local natural resource that has been recycled, you are choosing to be part of the solution regarding our landfill concerns.

2. What is growing in my landscape mulch? See article to the right or click the link to download an informative PDF brochure — What is Growing in My Landscape Mulch?

What Is Growing in My Landscape Mulch?

(PDF publication from the Department of Plant Pathology at PennState College of Agricultural Sciences)

Landscape mulches are used to protect soil, conserve moisture, moderate soil temperature, and limit weed growth, as well as beautify and unify landscape plantings. Most mulches are mixtures of shredded wood and bark residues from lumber and paper mills, arboricultural and land-clearing operations, and wooden pallet disposal or recycling facilities.

Like other organic matter, wood and bark decompose over time. The primary organisms involved with their decomposition are bacteria and fungi, which derive their energy for growth from the carbon-based compounds found in wood and bark. These compounds include cellulose, lignin, and simple sugars. Bacteria are microscopic organisms that are not visible in the mulch. Fungi also may be microscopic, but many develop visible reproductive structures.

The fungi involved in the decomposition of landscape mulches are natural components of the environment. Some fungi, such as the artillery fungus, are "recyclers" and break down woody tissue directly. Other fungi, such as slime molds, consume bacteria and other organisms living in the mulch. These fungi are not harmful to landscape plants and no known health hazards are associated with them unless they are eaten. They can be found April through October, usually following rainy weather.

This PDF publication from the Department of Plant Pathology at PennState College of Agricultural Sciences describes the four common types of fungi growing in landscape mulches in the eastern United States--mushrooms, slime molds, bird's nest fungus, and the artillery fungus.

Click on the link below to download a PDF version of the publication.

Telephone: (630) 293-5444 | Fax: (630) 293-7667 | 300 Charles Court, West Chicago, Illinois 60185

Frequently Asked Questions About Mulch Products

What Is Growing in My Landscape Mulch?

KTS Complete Professional Tree Care

Frequently Asked Questions
About Mulch Products