Question
Hello,
I live in Central Wisconsin and have planted approximately 300 evergreens, blue spruce etc over the last 3-4 years. I have been putting grass clippings and leaves around the trees as mulch. My question is am I hurting the trees, they are anywhere from 1 to 4 feet in height. I have noticed some off the trees losing needles.
Thanks,
Tom

Answer
No this type mulch is ok as long as you do not pile it up on the trunk. When you put the mulch around a tree think of a donut and make the "hole" where the trunk is and keep the mulch off the trunk. Evergreen tree do lose needles--they have two sets of needles and they will drop the older set and grow new needles next spring. Usually the needles turning brown are the ones nearer the trunk. as long as the needles on the near the ends of the branches are green this is normal.