Mulching Benefits: How Arborists Recycle Trees

Arborist mulch is made by feeding removed tree branches, bark, and foliage through an industrial chipper, producing a coarse, organic material that is excellent for suppressing weeds, retaining soil moisture, regulating soil temperature, and improving soil health as it decomposes. Rather than sending green waste to landfill, professional arborists recycle almost everything that comes off your trees, turning a waste product into one of the best things you can give your garden.

I am Daymian McGovern, an AQF Level 3 Certified Arborist, and recycling is a core part of how we operate at Certified Tree Service. Whether we are carrying out tree pruning, tree removal, or land clearing across the Central Coast, Lake Macquarie, or Newcastle, the vast majority of green waste we generate is chipped on site and either left for the client or taken away to be composted and reused.

How Removed Trees Become Mulch

When we remove or prune a tree, the process generates several types of material:

- Small to medium branches and foliage: Fed straight into our chipper on site. This produces fresh arborist mulch, a mix of chipped wood, bark, and leaves.
- Larger limbs and trunk sections: Cut into manageable pieces. Sound wood can be milled for timber or split for firewood. The remainder is chipped.
- Stumps: Processed through stump grinding, which produces a fine wood and soil mix that can be used as a base layer under mulch.

A single medium-sized tree can produce several cubic metres of quality mulch. That is material that would otherwise take up space in landfill, releasing methane as it decomposes anaerobically. By chipping and composting it, we keep it in the cycle where it does good.

The Benefits of Mulching Your Garden

Mulch is not just a cosmetic top-dressing. It is a functional layer that mimics the natural leaf litter found on a forest floor. Here is what it does:

Weed Suppression

A layer of mulch 75 to 100 mm deep blocks sunlight from reaching the soil surface, dramatically reducing weed germination. This means less time weeding and fewer herbicides needed. On the Central Coast, where warm, wet conditions can produce explosive weed growth, mulching is one of the most effective controls available.

Moisture Retention

Mulch acts as an insulating blanket that slows evaporation from the soil surface. In the Central Coast's summer heat, mulched garden beds can retain up to 70 percent more moisture than bare soil. This translates directly to lower water bills and healthier plants.

Temperature Regulation

Bare soil can reach surface temperatures above 60 degrees Celsius on a hot Central Coast summer day. Mulch keeps root zone temperatures stable, protecting shallow roots from heat stress in summer and frost damage in winter. This is particularly important for native species like Banksia and Grevillea, which have shallow, sensitive root systems.

Soil Health Improvement

As mulch breaks down over 12 to 24 months, it is gradually incorporated into the soil by earthworms, fungi, and bacteria. This process:

- Adds organic matter, improving soil structure and drainage
- Feeds beneficial soil microorganisms
- Increases nutrient availability for plants
- Improves the water-holding capacity of sandy Central Coast soils

Erosion Prevention

On sloped blocks, which are common across the Central Coast in suburbs like Kariong, Mount Elliot, and Kincumber, mulch holds soil in place during heavy rain. It absorbs the impact of raindrops and slows surface water flow, preventing the washouts that can damage gardens and expose tree roots.

How to Apply Mulch Properly

Getting the application right matters. Poorly applied mulch can cause more harm than good.

Do:

- Apply mulch in a layer 75 to 100 mm deep for best results
- Keep mulch at least 100 mm away from the trunk of any tree or plant. Mulch piled against bark creates a moist environment that promotes rot and invites pests.
- Extend mulch coverage out to the drip line (the edge of the canopy) where possible, as this is where the active feeder roots are
- Top up annually as the lower layers decompose

Do not:

- Build "mulch volcanoes" around tree trunks. This is one of the most common mistakes I see, and it slowly kills trees by trapping moisture against the bark and encouraging decay.
- Use fresh mulch in vegetable gardens. Fresh wood chip temporarily binds nitrogen as it begins to decompose, which can starve vegetables. Compost it for 6 to 12 months first, or use it only on pathways.
- Apply mulch deeper than 150 mm. Excessively thick layers can become water-repellent and prevent rain from reaching the soil.

Composting Wood Chip Mulch

If you want to turn fresh arborist mulch into a rich compost, the process is straightforward:

1. Create a pile at least one cubic metre in volume. Smaller piles do not generate enough heat.
2. Mix in nitrogen-rich material: Add grass clippings, kitchen scraps, or animal manure at a ratio of roughly one part nitrogen material to three parts wood chip. This balances the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio and speeds decomposition.
3. Keep it moist: The pile should feel like a wrung-out sponge. Water it during dry spells.
4. Turn it regularly: Every two to four weeks, turn the pile with a fork to introduce oxygen. This keeps the process aerobic and prevents the pile from becoming smelly.
5. Wait: Depending on conditions, your compost will be ready in 3 to 12 months. Finished compost is dark, crumbly, and earthy-smelling.

The resulting compost is a premium soil amendment that you would pay good money for at a garden centre. It is especially valuable for improving the sandy soils common along the Central Coast's coastal strip.

We Leave the Mulch, You Get the Benefit

When we carry out tree work on your property, we always offer the option of leaving the chipped material for you to use as mulch. Many of our clients across Terrigal, Erina, Gosford, and surrounding suburbs are happy to keep it, saving them the cost of buying mulch and saving us the cost of disposal. It is a genuine win for everyone.

For larger land clearing jobs, the volume of mulch produced can be substantial. We can spread it on site as ground cover, stockpile it for staged use, or remove it if you prefer.

Closing the Loop on Tree Care

Recycling trees into mulch is one of the most sustainable aspects of professional arboriculture. Every tree we remove continues to contribute to the landscape through the mulch it becomes. It feeds the soil, protects the plants, and supports the next generation of growth.

If you need tree work done on the Central Coast, Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, or surrounding areas, and you want it handled by a team that values the material as much as the service, give me a call on 0432 687 647 or contact us. We will take care of your trees and make sure nothing goes to waste.