Additional info

         The purpose of this article is to inform future clients on the benefits of forestry mulching. This will be done by discussing the process of forestry mulching, the benefits to soil and plant health as well as fire reduction. Mulching has been shown to have a positive effect on forest health.

         Mulching involves the use of heavy equipment to grind, shred, chip, or chop large woody material into smaller pieces (Wolk2020). Mulching can be done in different ways, by masticating or chipping. Mastication provides a shredded product varying in size. This process is faster and can be done in more technical terrain. Chipping creates a uniform sized product and needs to be spread or hauled off. Chipping is slower and requires more labor.

         Mulching reduces the deterioration of soil by way of preventing the runoff and soil loss

(Patil 2013). Removing the excess standing woody plant material increases the availability of sunlight, water and nutrients to present and future herbaceous plants. This provides and increase in groundwater and nutrients to the soil in turn making a healthier forest.

         Ladder fuels can transfer a fire from the ground to the canopy. Mulching the crown and ladder fuels reduces the tree density and helps suppress future fire behavior (Wolk 2020). With recent fire activity being a concern, this practice will increase the health and safety of the forest.

         The process of forestry mulching is highly beneficial to the health of the forest. Whether chipping or masticating mulching increases soil and plant health. Reducing ladder fuels by mulching increase fire resilience and safety to the forest.

Literature Cited

Kramer, H. A., Collins, B. M., Kelly, M., & Stephens, S. L. (2014). Quantifying ladder fuels: A new approach using LiDAR. Forests, 5(6), 1432-1453.

Patil Shirish, S., Kelkar Tushar, S., & Bhalerao Satish, A. (2013). Mulching: a soil and water conservation practice. Research Journal of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences _______________________________________________ ISSN, 2320, 6063.

Wolk, BH, Stevens-Rumann, CS, Battaglia, MA, Wennogle, C, Dennis, C, Feinstein, JA, Garrison, K, and Edwards, G (2020). Mulching: A knowledge summary and guidelines for best practices on Colorado’s Front Range. CFRI-2001.